[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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- 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
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- [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 showcase of exquisitely beautiful gems that will move you to tears (31–40)
Slavonic Dance, Op. 72 No. 2Antonín Dvořák
It’s a piece written by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák in June 1886, included in the Second Series of Slavonic Dances.
Although it was originally composed for piano four hands, Dvořák himself completed the orchestral arrangement between November 1886 and January 1887.
He was discovered by Brahms—the creator of the Hungarian Dances—who recognized his talent, and it was through Brahms’s introduction that the Slavonic Dances came to be written.
Indeed, the two composers may share a similar appeal.
It’s enjoyable to compare their works side by side.
EARTHMuramatsu Takatsugu
This piece, performed as a flute and piano duo, is a grand work themed around the Earth’s environment and the beauty of nature.
The flute’s gentle melodies and the piano’s rich resonance intertwine exquisitely, evoking the sensation of traveling through the great outdoors.
The structure begins with a quiet introduction, gradually unfolds into a dramatic development, and finally moves toward a tranquil close.
This dynamic contour brings deep emotional expression to the music and captivates listeners.
It’s a recommended piece for those who want to feel their love for nature and the Earth through music, and for anyone who wishes to fully savor the charm of the flute.
Largo in E-flat majorFrederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin’s Largo in E-flat major evokes a tightening in the chest with its wistful, drifting melody.
Composed in 1837, this piece embodies Chopin’s patriotism and longing for his homeland.
It also drew attention when Kyohei Sorita performed it at the International Chopin Piano Competition.
Unfolding at a relaxed tempo, its gentle yet richly expressive melody deeply stirs the listener.
A distinctive feature is how affection for Poland’s history and culture is conveyed through delicate expressivity and technical refinement.
Why not listen to it when you want to sink into a bittersweet mood or quietly gather your thoughts?
Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Symphony No.
6 “Pathétique” by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky—who left many grand works such as the ballet music Swan Lake—was his final composition and is counted among the representative symphonies of the late 19th century.
Tchaikovsky is said to have written in a letter that he was “prouder of this than any other work,” suggesting it was a piece in which he took great confidence.
Particularly famous is the fourth movement, which, true to its subtitle, is suffused with pathos.
Why not quietly savor its heartbreakingly beautiful harmonies that seem to pierce the soul?
Memories of the AlhambraFrancisco Tárrega
This is a masterpiece for classical guitar by Francisco Tárrega, who was active in 19th-century Spain.
Characterized by delicate, beautiful tones that seem to depict the flow of water or the whisper of the wind, it makes full use of tremolo technique.
Composed based on memories from a visit to the Alhambra, the piece condenses Spain’s history, culture, and magnificent architectural beauty.
Though it presents a formidable technical challenge—an ultimate test for guitarists—it remains a work of profound allure that resonates deeply with listeners.
[Masterpiece Classics] A Showcase of Exquisitely Beautiful Gems That Will Move You to Tears (41–50)
ChaconneTomaso Antonio Vitali
A violin piece that is sweetly melancholic yet accompanied by brilliance.
It came to light in the 19th century, nearly a century after Vitali’s time.
When the violinist David arranged and published the previously unknown Chaconne in G minor, the piece became widely known.
However, because the score he used for the arrangement was not written directly by Vitali, there is also a controversial theory that it may be a forgery.
Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt
The third piece of Liszt’s piano collection Liebesträume is very famous, known for its memorable, romantic, and beautiful main theme that’s often heard at weddings.
Did you know, however, that Liebesträume is not only a set of three pieces, but was originally composed as songs? Around 1845, Liszt wrote them as lieder for soprano solo, and the work also bore the title “O lieb, solang du lieben kannst” (“O love, as long as you can”).
A few years later, in 1850, Liszt himself arranged them as solo piano pieces, giving rise to the Liebesträume we commonly hear today.
The song “O lieb, solang du lieben kannst,” set to a poem by the German poet Ferdinand Freiligrath, has a unique vocal beauty of its own, so I recommend listening to it alongside the piano version.
