[Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
Masterpieces of classical music are played on TV, in movies, and in shopping malls, permeating our daily lives as background music.
There are many times when a piece that mysteriously brings you to tears turns out to be a work of classical music.
This time, from among such classical works, we’ve carefully selected timeless masterpieces under the theme “so heartbreakingly beautiful they’ll make you cry.”
Please enjoy to your heart’s content the profound sonorities unique to classical music, which combines both delicacy and boldness.
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- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
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- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
- Cello Masterpieces: A comprehensive introduction to exquisite classical works that let you savor its profound timbre
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- [Ultra-Advanced] Even challenging for advanced players! A curated selection of highly difficult piano pieces
- Gabriel Fauré | Introduction to His Famous and Representative Works
- Masterpieces for Harp: A curated selection of distinguished works featuring noble and delicate tones
- Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
[Masterpiece Classics] A comprehensive introduction to gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears (61–70)
String Quartet No. 2, Movement 3: NocturneAlexander Borodin
Borodin was one of the composers known as the “Mighty Handful” (or “The Five”), a group in late 19th-century Russia who sought to create a nationalistic art music.
Although he was not a professional composer but a chemist working at an army hospital, he left behind deeply expressive masterpieces.
This piece, too, is characterized by the rich sonority of the strings.
The cello sings an emotional, beautiful melody, which the violin then takes up and continues to render with heartfelt expression.
Borodin dedicated this work to his wife as a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of confessing his love to her.
Symphonic poem ‘Les Préludes (The Preludes)’Franz Liszt
This is a symphonic poem composed by Franz Liszt in 1854.
Among the thirteen symphonic poems he wrote, it is perhaps the most frequently performed.
A symphonic poem is an orchestral work based on the content of a poem, and the form is said to have been pioneered by Liszt.
This particular piece was inspired by a poem by Alphonse de Lamartine and conveys the idea that life is a prelude to death.
Its dramatic development is captivating, and simply listening to the music allows one to sense the poem’s content.
‘Solveig’s Song’ from Peer Gynt Suite No. 2Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian composer known as a leading figure of the national romantic school influenced by Norwegian music.
He studied under Ole Bull and Niels Gade, and although he did not become a professional performing musician, he was renowned for his formidable piano technique.
One of his representative works is “Solveig’s Song” from Peer Gynt Suite No.
2.
Beyond its poignancy and beauty, it also features mysterious melodies that evoke a sense of adventure, allowing a variety of images to unfold within a single piece.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 1, Prelude, BWV 846J.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No.
1, Prelude in C major, BWV 846, has an extremely simple structure in which broken chords are regularly repeated, yet its beautiful harmonic shifts are soothing to the soul.
Charles Gounod’s Ave Maria, which uses this piece as its accompaniment, is also well known.
When you want to calm your anger, steady your impatience, or dwell in sorrow, hearing this piece brings a sense of quiet and composure.
It’s a classic masterpiece that perfectly embodies the phrase “unadorned beauty.”
Etude Op. 25 No. 11 “Winter Wind”Frederic Chopin
Affectionately known as the “Winter Wind” Etude, it is one of Chopin’s most popular works and a masterpiece of the highest artistry among his etudes.
The word “etude” means “study,” and this piece demands especially advanced technique even among Chopin’s 27 etudes.
In both technique and musicality, it can be considered one of the pinnacles of his etudes.
Its rapidly flowing right-hand broken chords are striking, while the melody is carried by the left hand.
True to the name “Winter Wind,” the piece evokes a strong, icy wind that lifts fallen leaves and a mood tinged with melancholy.
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninoff, one of Russia’s greatest composers.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend is Vocalise, Op.
34 No.
14.
The term “vocalise,” which appears in the title, originally refers to a singing technique using only vowel sounds.
Its heart-wrenchingly wistful melody is also extremely appealing as a piano piece.
For those who appreciate themes of profound sorrow and melancholy, this is a work that will resonate deeply.
Be sure to check it out.
Memories of the AlhambraFrancisco Tárrega
Francisco Tárrega, a composer who had a profound influence on 20th-century classical guitar, is known for his distinctive musical style that blends Romantic music with Spanish folk elements.
In Tárrega’s case in particular, his time performing with a Romani musical ensemble in Valencia also lends a strong flamenco flavor to his work.
Recuerdos de la Alhambra is one of his most celebrated pieces, and it conveys a poignant atmosphere rooted in Spanish music.
With passages of melancholy alternating with passages of beauty, the piece remains engaging from start to finish.