[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.
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Masterpieces of classical piano that are too beautiful for words. A gathering of delicate tones that cleanse the soul.
- [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)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 – Fourth MovementJohannes Brahms
This work is Brahms’s first symphony, yet it took him 21 years from conception to completion.
He revered Beethoven’s symphonies and agonized over the question, “I want to write a symphony, but what kind of piece could I possibly write after Beethoven?” The result, completed after overcoming that dilemma, was a work so highly regarded that the conductor Hans von Bülow called it “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony.” Driven by a beautifully uplifting melody and propulsive rhythms, the piece unfolds and concludes with a power befitting the climax of the entire work.
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.
Two Elegiac MelodiesEdvard Grieg
Two pieces selected from the song collection Twelve Melodies, Op.
33, set to poems by the Norwegian farmer-poet Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, were arranged by Edvard Grieg himself for string orchestra as Two Elegiac Melodies.
The two movements are Heart Wounds and The Last Spring.
Though steeped in sorrow, their grand sense of scale strongly conveys Grieg’s Nordic character.
These works soothe a downcast spirit and calm a restless heart.
Violin Concerto in E minor, First MovementFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn, a composer who represents German Romantic music.
A child prodigy, he displayed musical talent from an early age and not only produced numerous masterpieces, but also earned credit for reviving Bach’s music, which had been fading into obscurity at the time.
Among his works, a piece I recommend for its poignancy is the First Movement of the Violin Concerto in E minor.
Its melody conveys beauty, but unlike Chopin or John Field, it is crafted to express a passionate intensity—an impassioned kind of wistfulness and beauty.
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.
Sorrow of LoveKreisler=Rachmaninov
Fritz Kreisler’s masterpiece “Liebesleid” (Love’s Sorrow).
This work was composed for violin and piano as a counterpart to “Liebesfreud” (Love’s Joy).
Whether performed as a piano solo or a violin solo, its beautiful melody and tear-evoking character are known for their powerful expressive impact, and it is frequently performed by many musicians.
Together with “Liebesfreud” and “Schön Rosmarin,” it forms a trilogy, so please try listening to all three.
SarabandeGeorg Friedrich Händel
This piece is by Handel, who was born in 1685, the same year as Bach.
He was born in Germany, later found success in Italy, and went on to be active in England.
It was written before the invention of the piano; although it is often performed on the piano today, it was composed as a harpsichord work.
While not particularly demanding technically, it has a striking directness that strips away the unnecessary and appeals straight to the emotions.
It might be interesting to compare it with a performance on the harpsichord.
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.
Ballade No. 1Frederic Chopin
The term “ballade” originates from a French word meaning “story,” and generally refers to a narrative poem.
In the Romantic era, when Chopin was active, there was a tendency to incorporate literature into music.
This work is said to have been inspired by the ballads of the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz.
Among the four ballades, No.
1 is the most popular.
It combines gloom and purity with power, and is characterized by its ever-changing expressions.
Prelude and Allegro in the Style of PugnaniFritz Kreisler
A short piece for violin and piano by Fritz Kreisler, one of the world’s leading violinists of the 20th century.
The “Pugnani” in the title refers to Gaetano Pugnani, an 18th-century Italian violinist.
The Allegro theme, introduced at the opening with only marcato quarter notes, carries a powerful resolve and a sense of tragedy, as if to shake the listener’s soul.
It is followed by virtuosic variations centered on sixteenth notes, driving toward a dramatic climax with cascading phrases that make full use of double stops.