[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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[Masterpiece Classics] A selection of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears (1–10)
Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, Movement IV: AdagiettoGustav Mahler
A renowned masterpiece celebrated for its serene beauty and profound emotion, this work by Mahler was conceived in 1901 during his summer vacation in southern Austria, at a time when he was extremely busy as conductor of the Vienna Court Opera.
Scored solely for strings and harp, its delicate musical ideas are said to be woven with thoughts of a beloved, resonating deeply in the listener’s heart.
The melody, unfolded at an unhurried tempo, draws the listener into a quiet vortex of feeling, as if time itself had stopped.
It is a highly recommended piece for moments when you wish to calm your mind or immerse yourself in deep emotion.
Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin
Among Chopin’s 21 nocturnes, this is the most famous.
Its beautiful melody is aria-like, and Chopin, who loved vocal music, actively incorporated contemporary operatic aria performance practices into his piano playing.
When this piece was composed, the November Uprising had broken out—an armed rebellion in Chopin’s homeland of Poland against the rule of the Russian Empire.
Though physically frail and not a participant in the war, Chopin was said to be deeply saddened by the outcome, in which Russia suppressed the uprising by force.
It feels as if the piece reflects that sorrow and a prayer for peace.
String Quartet No. 2, Movement 1Alexander Borodin
Known as a masterpiece brimming with lyrical beauty, this string quartet captivates with its sweet, lovestruck melodies and delicate fragility.
Highlights include the theme that begins in the cello and passes to the first violin, as well as the lively interplay among the instruments.
It is also a highly rewarding piece for performers.
Begun in July 1881 and completed by September—a remarkably swift pace—the work overflows with a warm resonance filled with love.
It is an ideal choice for those who wish to savor beautiful melodies and rich expressiveness.
[Masterpiece Classics] A showcase of exquisitely beautiful gems that will move you to tears (11–20)
“Nimrod” from Enigma VariationsEdward Elgar
One of the signature works by the British composer Edward Elgar—also known for Pomp and Circumstance—is the Enigma Variations.
Officially titled Variations on an Original Theme, this piece was composed as a set of orchestral variations and is notable for its unique genesis: Elgar improvised variation-like passages while thinking of his friends, and later developed them into a full orchestral work.
The piece consists of 14 variations, the most famous of which is Variation IX, “Nimrod.” There are performances of it on its own, as well as arrangements that isolate “Nimrod,” and perhaps because of its grand yet wistfully beautiful melody, it is frequently used in the UK for funerals and memorials.
Although it was not composed with that intention, listening to it can vividly conjure images of a climactic scene in a film or ceremony—one of the fascinating aspects of how music can affect us.
Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov
A moving melody woven from beauty and melancholy seeps into the heart.
Beginning with a clarinet solo and expanding to the full orchestra, the sonic world shakes the listener’s soul.
Its lyrical line, which evokes nostalgia and distant memories, feels as if it were singing of a beloved person.
It is also featured in the film “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” known as a classic that colors romantic scenes.
Recommended for those who wish to heal the pain of heartbreak or to bask in memories with someone dear.
Premiered in January 1908 to great success, it is also famous as a work that symbolizes the composer’s rebirth.
Hymn No. 320: “Nearer, My God, to Thee”Eliza Flower)
The hymn based on Jacob’s dream is a work themed around the desire to draw closer to God.
Set to a beautiful melody by Eliza Flower, it has continued to move listeners deeply.
Its lyrics convey the meaning of approaching God even through hardship, and it is also known from the Titanic episode.
In Japan, it has been used in the final episode of A Dog of Flanders and at funerals, and is cherished as a song of parting tinged with poignancy.
This piece is recommended for those facing life’s trials and for anyone seeking a hymn that resonates with the heart.
Since its publication in 1841, it has become a classic sung around the world.
Like a melodyJohannes Brahms
This work, set to a poem by Klaus Groth, a friend of Johannes Brahms, is characterized by a warmly embracing quality.
The wide intervals within the phrases and skillful modulations lend the piece delicacy and depth.
Its melody, deeply intertwined with the poem’s content, conveys an attempt to express emotions and thoughts beyond words through the power of music.
Beginning with broad, arpeggiated progressions and unfolding into long-breathed, beautiful melodic lines, this piece is recommended for those who wish to explore the deepest emotions of the heart through music.
Composed in 1886 and published in 1888, this song, written when Brahms was 53, has continued to be cherished by many performers and audiences.