![[Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/BV37qZki31U/maxresdefault.webp)
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)
Adagio for StringsSamuel Barber
This is an arrangement for string orchestra of the second movement from American composer Samuel Barber’s String Quartet in B minor, Op.
11.
A quiet, mournful melody begins, giving the impression of gentle sobbing.
As the tension gradually rises and the music surges into a searing, anguished climax, the emotion intensifies and the poignancy deepens.
In the end, it fades away slowly.
Because it is sorrowful throughout, it was used at the funeral of John F.
Kennedy.
Pavane for a Dead QueenMaurice Ravel
The piano masterpiece Pavane for a Dead Princess.
This work is a celebrated piece by Maurice Ravel, a composer whose avant-garde musicality had a profound impact on contemporary music.
During his lifetime, Ravel did not clearly state his evaluation of this piece, but in his later years he expressed a special affection for it.
Knowing this background makes the work all the more moving, so be sure to check it out.
CanonJohann Pachelbel
It is one of Pachelbel’s most famous works.
Pachelbel was a German composer active during the Baroque era, and although more than 300 years have passed since this piece was composed, it is still loved by many people today.
“Canon” refers to a musical style in which the main theme’s phrase is passed along in imitation, like a round such as “The Frog Chorus.” Pachelbel also favored a chord progression known as the “golden progression,” which makes it easy to create beautiful music, and he left behind masterpieces that capture people’s hearts.
This piece, too, has a cleansing, heart-soothing beauty.
Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven
Counted alongside Piano Sonata No.
14 “Moonlight” and No.
23 “Appassionata” as one of Beethoven’s three great piano sonatas, “Pathétique” is also one of the few works to which Beethoven himself gave a title.
In stark contrast to the weighty, passionate first movement, the second movement is striking for its warm, lyrical music that seems to radiate light even amid sorrow.
Beethoven composed the Pathétique around the time he began noticing irregularities in his hearing.
Although no direct connection between his hearing loss and this piece is known, it may reflect the inner turmoil he was experiencing.
MoonlightClaude Debussy
One of the most renowned pieces from the Suite bergamasque by French composer Claude Debussy, who was active from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Inspired by a poem by Paul Verlaine, this work beautifully conveys the emotional depth that lies within silence and beauty.
Composed around 1900, Debussy employed innovative harmonies and modes in this piece.
Why not spend a peaceful moment listening to its gentle melody, which resonates deeply with the listener’s heart?
Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticanaPietro Mascagni
The opera Cavalleria Rusticana depicts entangled romantic relationships—jealousy, infidelity, and revenge—set on the island of Sicily in southern Italy, much like something you’d read in a gossip column.
It is said to be based on real-life tragedies involving two couples on the island.
The Intermezzo is especially famous and is often performed on its own in concert.
Its serene, lush melody heightens the contrast with the tragic ending that follows, including a duel and a parting by death.
String Quartet No. 1, Second Movement: Andante cantabilePyotr Tchaikovsky
This is a gem of a masterpiece inspired by a Ukrainian folk song.
The serene melody born from the harmony of the strings evokes deep emotion in the listener.
Its beautiful tune, which gently enfolds the feelings of a young person in love, delicately portrays the subtleties of human emotion.
There is an anecdote that even Russia’s great literary giant Tolstoy was moved to tears by this work.
masterfully expressing both the anxieties and hopes of love, it is a piece that offers solace to those troubled by romance.
The moving performance at a special concert in December 1876 was recorded by the composer in his diary as a lifelong source of pride.
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.
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.
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.