Posted by Rick Denney on August 21, 2001 at 22:24:57:
In Reply to: Most emotional songs posted by Nick Clark on August 21, 2001 at 16:52:26:
The second movement from Vaughan Williams's second symphony. And, for that matter, the second movement from his fourth symphony, which adds a component of extreme pathos. Both are pure beauty. Likewise, the Tallis Fantasia, but only when it is really well played, which happens about once every 5000 times it is performed.
Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess has always done it for me, too.
The soaring soprano solo near the end of Carmina Burana (can't recall the movement name) has always made my hair stand on end, when it's well done. When the soprano misses it, the emotions are equally strong but not equally uplifting.
Poulenc's Gloria evokes strong emotions, too, but of the kind that makes you want to go out and do good things.
The slow movement from Prokofiev's fifth symphony often moves me.
And, yes, I'm also a sucker for Meat Loaf's Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. That song arrived in my life just about the same time someone else left. Until I met my wife, I couldn't play that song.
Rick "who agrees with others about the Song without Words in the Holst" Denney