Most achingly-beautiful music


Ultimately, we listen to music to be moved, for example, to be elated, exulted, calmed or pained. Which are the 3 most affecting pieces of music do you find the most affecting?
hungryear
I must add a couple to the previous response: Allegri's Miserere, Pachelbel's Canon, Beethoven's 7th Symphony.
The emotional loading of every piece is very listener dependent, but I still find browsing through other people's postings enchanting. What a great source of ideas for expanding one's CD collection this forum is!
Female vocals. Pat Benatar, Sarah McLachlan, Linda Rhonstadt, Enya. These female vocalists all have perfect pitch and perfect voices and with the right song, can be very moving to listen to. Patti Smyth did a great duet with Don Henley and some great songs of her own. Classical music can also be very moving with Chopin's minor music being very emotional or Bach or Beethoven.
There are many but the one that really sticks out in my mind is "The Lark Ascending" by Vaughan Williams.