This would go better in the Instrumental + Classical subforum
I can't exactly quantify the emotion conveyed by a work of music so I don't have one single piece that I'd put at the top. Lots of powerful stuff by Beethoven and Chopin though (and of course many others).
A few thoughts:
Beethoven - Moonlight, Appassionata, Hammerklavier and last piano sonatas. Many late works
Chopin - Ballades, some études (e.g. op. 10 no. 3, 4, 12; op. 25 no. 11, 12), etc.
Elgar cello concerto
Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto, Prelude op. 3 no. 2 (C# minor)
The rachmanninoff piano concertos. I particularly like one of them, I think it's number 1, but I don't know for sure. Also, Ravel's Pavane is amongst my favourites at the moment.
Another for Elgar's Cello Concerto. Each movement is just phenomenal, but especially the 1st and 2nd, and then the reprise theme at the very end of the 4th. I find Du Pre's interpretation to be the most emotive, personally as well
The rachmanninoff piano concertos. I particularly like one of them, I think it's number 1, but I don't know for sure. Also, Ravel's Pavane is amongst my favourites at the moment.
I've never liked Rachmanninoff; always found his pieces too heavy.
But then, I'm a violin whore (who plays the viola )
Favourite piece... one of the Gymnopedies (I can't remember which). There's loads though, I love the third movements of Vivaldi's Summer and Winter (but not Autumn or Spring so much). And I like the Slavonic dance (on piano though, not orchestral).
Last edited by Bubbles*de*Milo : 05-01-2009 at 21:54.
In your opinion, what is the most emotive piece of classical music?
I like Adagio for Strings by Barber.
I love that, so nice to listen to and definitely very emotive, Chopin as others have mentioned too. I also love the theme from the 2nd mvt from Symphony no.2 (I think?) by Sibelius - there's a video of a version of it on youtube where the conductor gets very emotional.
Rach 2nd symphony, 3rd mov.
Rach 3rd PC, reprise of big tune at end of 3rd mov.
Rach PC 2, 2nd mov
(I like Rach)
Chopin Ballades 1 + 4, especially A major bit in 1st and big Db arps in 4th,
Brahms, beginning of 2nd PC
Bach Goldberg variations, Da Capo Aria - after all the madness and counterpoint, sweet serenity.
Beethoven, Moonlight 3rd mov.
Tchaik 5th symphony, 2nd mov.
Wagner Tristan +Isolde Prelude, when the romantic tune comes in near the beginning.
Rachmaninoff's 3rd piano concerto is emotive; the 2nd is schmaltzy. I think the Tchaikovsky piano concertos can be a little robust at times but are tender too, here and there. Sibelius 7th symphony is incredibly powerful, it is emotive but not in the euphemistic sense, when I listen to it I have feelings reminiscent of creation or emergence. The finale to Shostakovich 5th symphony makes me feel like a tank commander. I don't know if these pieces would qualify as emotive to others, I hope you don't mean soppy. I think the market for soppy music is to blame for all these bloody 'X's adagios' and what-not littering the stores (well not Zavvi anymore).
I don't think it's schmaltzy, just very Romantic.
I don't like the Tchaik PCs (especially 1st) because they just seem unnatural. Like in 3rd mov., the romantic tune comes from NOWHERE near the beginning.
I like the finale of his 5th symphony also, it's very powerful and grand. I like 2nd mov of Strauss oboe concerto, it's very graceful.
Also Beethoven emperor 2nd mov, it gives me the impression of great hope.
The second concerto from Rachmaninoff starts well, very Russian, delicious. The adagio sostenuto is just an exercise in cheap emotion. I know what you mean about Tchaikovsky - in the second piano concerto I sort of expect a square-jawed superhero to appear when the strings return after one of the cadenzas, it seems incongruous. I still think they're nice.
The second movement of the Beethoven G Major piano concerto; also of the C minor one (cast in E major... but when it moves briefly to G without preparation yes oh god yes!!!). And of course lots of late Beethoven: the fugue from the C#minor quartet (and the little interlude in G# minor); the slow movement from the Eb quartet op.127; the lydian hymn from op.132; the cavatina from the late Bb quartet; all of op.109 and the Arietta from op.111. The 'Et incarnatus est' in the Missa Solemnis.
Lots of Bach too, and Mahler. The long section in the final unfinished fugue from Die Kunst der Fuge which passes through G major (I think... hmm, it's about the second episode, can't remember) is stunning. All of the St Matthew Passion and the B Minor mass, but in particular 'Mache dich, mine Herze, rein' from the former, and the 'Et in spiritum sanctum' from the latter.
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Classical music?
it's beautiful
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