There are many famous classical musicians whose composition will make your eyes teary; Schubert’s Winterreise, the fourth movement of Mahler’s 9th symphony, Erbarme Dich from J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, and many others make the list endless.
It is always challenging to shortlist the saddest pieces of classical music; still, we took a chance to compile the same. You can feel free to go through them and make your eyes weary. Enjoy these pieces with a loved one or enjoy a solo time by yourself.
Top List of Misery Transcribed to Music
Henry Purcell – Dido’s Lament (When I Am Laid In Earth, from Dido and Aeneas)
The first composition which always stays on the top of our list is Dido’s Lament. It is one of the blightingly beautiful pieces of Purcell. Adapted from Dido and Aeneas, his opera, the music adequately captures the essence of the period when Dido is about to succumb to her death.
Arvo Pärt – Spiegel im Spiegel
We trace that Spiegel Im Spiegel has a rare candor and allows the melody to act like an open vessel so that the listener can mix their emotions and this classic piece. This composition is simple yet sufficient. Considering the writing of the melody, Pärt was impacted by his esoteric knowledge of chant music and used his distinguished Tintinnabulation technique.
Robert Schumann – Hör’ ich das Liedchen Klingen (Nach Heine)
This melody will surely make your eyes watery. It is one of the most exemplary musical milestones of misery in music that proclaims that it portrays the heart’s pain through a melody.
Henryk Gorecki – Symphony 3
Gorecki’s symphony 3 is a masterpiece that portrays what we label as chilling sadness. We don’t know why it reproduced so less, but it is beyond sublime. Gorecki uses the words inscribed by an eighteen-year-old girl on the walls of a Gestapo prison during the Second World War in the melody during the second movement.
Tchaikovsky – Finale of his 6th symphony
This movement embedded by one of the famous classical musicians comes with a bit of sadness. However, this piece is devoted to his nephew, who was the object of his proscribed desire. This misery in music is filled with despair and loneliness. We are sure that you will find yourself grabbing a box of tissues as you listen to this pleasurably painful melody.
Mahler – I’ve Become Lost To The World (Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen)
I’ve Become Lost To The World is a pre-sentimental piece of Mahler, an emotionally toiling musician. We will suggest you pair it with contralto Kathleen Ferrier’s 1952 rendition. It is assumed that you will have a mind-gusty experience of misery in music.
Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings
This piece is famous and remembered by all as Barber himself proclaimed that this was all he had to say after a lifetime of depression and alcoholism in this ten-minute melancholic masterpiece.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Requiem Mass in D minor – VI. Lacrimosa
The beginning of this melody movement is some of the last written notes by Mozart. They are stirring yet solemn, making it an exceptional piece.
Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations
Elgar is always revered for being the master of heartsick sweeping melodies. You will often find this piece being played at funerals. It makes your heart weary and eyes watery in one go!
Beethoven – slow movement of his 4th piano concerto
Beethoven needs to be felt personally, and our experience will differ significantly from yours. You will see the music of this melody come as if from nowhere.
To end with
There are plenty of sad pieces by famous classical musicians. However, the above-mentioned are a few that we thought you should know about. If you want more updates on sad music, you can subscribe to Interlude HK Ltd for more updates and news. It is the best music magazine with the latest as well as classical pieces of music.