A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
Introducing heartrending classical pieces in one go!
Even when we say “heartrending classical music,” the moods and styles vary widely.
This time, we’ve picked out a range of moving masterpieces—from piano and violin works to miniatures, chamber music, concertos, and orchestral pieces.
Alongside the classics, we’ve lined up a wide selection that includes lesser-known, more obscure works that even avid classical listeners might not immediately recognize.
Whether you’re just getting into classical music or already deeply immersed, there’s plenty to enjoy—so please relax and read to the end!
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Adagio for StringsSamuel Barber
Barber is a composer who represents America.
His works include many pieces for orchestra, chamber ensemble, theater, voice, and piano, but this Adagio is said to be his signature work.
It begins with a sobbing-like melody and builds up to an intense climax.
It became famous in the United States after it was used at John F.
Kennedy’s funeral, and it has often been used for obituaries, funerals, and memorial services; however, Barber is said to have complained that he did not write it as a piece for funerals.
Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov
This is a section from a symphony composed by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff between 1906 and 1907.
It premiered in January 1908 in St.
Petersburg and greatly contributed to restoring Rachmaninoff’s confidence as a composer.
The work is characterized by beautiful melodies and deep emotion, with a particularly striking clarinet solo that captivates listeners.
Its long, nostalgic lines and rich harmonies fully showcase Rachmaninoff’s romantic talent.
It is recommended for those seeking a moving musical experience or wishing to rediscover the charm of classical music.
String Quartet No. 2 in D major, Movement IAlexander Porfiryevich Borodin
This is a masterpiece completed in 1881 by Aleksandr Borodin, a 19th-century Russian chemist who was also a composer.
It is said to embody his love for his wife, Ekaterina, and to reflect memories of Heidelberg, Germany.
The work features singing, cantabile melodies that showcase the cello Borodin loved most, and its unique allure lies in a Romantic style rooted in Russian folk music.
It is recommended even for those who are interested in classical music but not yet familiar with it.
Its graceful, deeply expressive melodies will move listeners and resonate in their hearts.
String Quartet No. 1, Movement IIPyotr Tchaikovsky
This masterpiece was completed in 1871 by the Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
Its beautiful melodies, inspired by Russian folk songs, deeply move listeners’ hearts.
Showcasing Tchaikovsky’s exceptional talent to the fullest, this work is widely cherished as one of his signature pieces.
Despite its serenity, it conveys rich emotional expression, drawing listeners into a dreamlike world.
It seems that Tchaikovsky’s feelings, as he faced financial hardship at the time of composition, are reflected in the poignant yet beautiful melodies.
This is a highly recommended piece for anyone who wants to fully savor the charm of classical music.
TraumereiRobert Schumann
Originally a piano piece, it’s also widely used in many places in versions performed on the violin.
It’s a beautifully melancholic piece that makes you want to listen to it in a quiet setting.
Schumann also wrote piano pieces for children’s study, such as the “for children” series, so be sure to check those out as well.
Nocturne No. 20 “Posthumous”Frederic Chopin
After Chopin’s death, a nocturne that was first titled “Adagio” was published; today it is known as “Lento con gran espressione” and is often referred to as a “posthumous work.” It is featured in the film The Pianist.
The middle section quotes melodies found in the 1st and 3rd movements of the Piano Concerto No.
2, and it is said to have been composed so that his sister could practice the concerto.
Etude Op. 10 No. 3 in E major “Tristesse” (Farewell Song)Frederic Chopin
The opening melody is especially famous, and surely everyone has heard it at least once.
Because this piece was used in the 1934 German film about Chopin’s life, Farewell to Spring (released in Japan as “Wakare no Kyoku,” or “Farewell Song”), it has become widely known in Japan by that title.
Around the time he composed this work, Chopin left his homeland of Poland and moved his base to Paris.
Suffused with both yearning and passion, the piece overlays the feelings of “dreaming of success in Paris” with “nostalgia for the countryside,” conveying the complex state of mind Chopin likely experienced.
RequiemWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A requiem is a mass for the dead, and this piece together with those by Verdi and Fauré are known as the “Three Great Requiems.” Mozart wrote this Requiem just before his death, leaving it unfinished, and it was later completed by one of his pupils.
After his death, rumors spread that a messenger from the realm of the dead had commissioned the work and that Mozart had written it for himself, which became a hot topic at the time.
In truth, he did compose it with death close at hand, and keeping that in mind as you listen makes it all the more moving.
Barcarolle No. 2 in F-sharp minor from Songs Without Words, Book IIFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer who left behind many delicate and graceful works, is especially known for his collection of short piano pieces called Songs Without Words.
The collection is divided into eight volumes, and the melancholy melody of Venetian Boat Song No.
2 in F-sharp minor, included in the second volume, is a celebrated piece that brings tears to the eyes.
Although all 48 pieces have titles, Mendelssohn himself named only five of them.
Venetian Boat Song No.
2 in F-sharp minor is one of those and is cherished as an exceptionally beautiful and striking work among the Songs Without Words.
dreamClaude Debussy
The piano piece composed around 1890 by Claude Debussy, a master of French Impressionist music, is a masterpiece filled with a dreamlike atmosphere.
Consisting of a sweet melody over arpeggiated chords and a chorale-like middle section, its roughly four-minute duration stimulates the listener’s imagination.
Written during a period when Debussy traveled to places like Germany and Bali and absorbed diverse musical influences, it represents an important step in his musical career.
This work is recommended for those who want to become familiar with classical music or seek peace of mind.
Its gentle melodies sink into the heart, offering a sensation as if you were in a dream.