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
Debussy's Quartet in G minor, opus 10; Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata or various moments in his Ninth Symphony, especially the Chorale crescendo; Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings.
Having just returned from a performance of it by the NJSO, I'd like to add the "Nimrod" variation from Elgar's Enigma Variations. Any preferred recordings of this piece for any of you?
(1)Bach: Chaconne (must be the full orchestral arrangement by Stokowski - beyond belief!) (2) Elgar: Enigma Variations (Nimrod Variation) (3) David Gray, White Ladder CD
Gotta keep this thread going, it's given me all sorts of music to listen to, many I would never have thought of or tried. Here's some more for your consideration:Brahms, Intermezzi in A major (Op. 118, no.2) and B flat minor (Op. 117, no. 1), I particularly like Pogorelich's interpretations on DG; Rachmaninoff, Vespers (toward the latter portion, you'll see where he came up with one of the themes for the final movement of his Symphonic Dances, but the most beautiful parts are in the 3rd through 6th pieces); Rachmaninoff Corelli Variations, particularly Ashkenazy's earlier, analog recording; Mendelssohn's Verleigh' uns Frieden, which I had the pleasure of singing with the Leipzig University choir, who got a kick out of my German; Vaughn Williams, 5 Mystical Songs, particularly the fourth, The Call; Durufle, Ubi Caritas from his four motets; and two that used to move me back in my college days and haven't listened to in a while, Morning Glory by Tim Buckley and Comin' Back to Me by the Jefferson Airplane (from the Surrealistic Pillow album). Outlier, do you have a favorite recording/performance of the Enigma Variations?