Most achingly-beautiful music

oops, un bel di from Madame Butterfly, now too common to get achy over, I was thinking of "visi d'arte" from Tosca.

For aching ee-lectric guitar: Stevie Ray Vaughan's instrumental version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" (on The Sky Is Crying) is glorious. Beats Clapton's version (Derek and the Dominoes), which isn't too shabby itself. My wedding song was Charles Mingus' very beautiful "Ellington's Sound of Love" (vocal and instrumental versions on Changes One and Changes Two). A favorite of mine is a moan from New Orleans, Allen Toussaint doing "Cruel Way To Go Down" (Southern Nights). On the folkier side, Spider John Koerner (kind of obscure) doing "I Ain't Blue" ("...I'm just a little bit lonesome for some love again") (Runnin, Jumpin, Standing Still). And the late Sandy Denny rendering "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" on Fairport Convention's album Unhalfbricking.

Kitch29: Glad to see another old Tim Buckley fan; I too miss his songwriting; I can't believe his son's tragic end as well. I went to about 5 of his concerts, and only once did he actually finish the set; sometimes he never even showed, at others he got sick in the middle of a set and walked off the stage. Very sad. My folk group in college did a number of covers of his songs, and they were always among the best-received.

Rach's 3rd piano concerto. Martha Argerich is my favorite interpreter, Performance is A-, sonics are B (somewhat distant miking, good tonal balance, ambiance). Also that Puccini aria used in A Room with a View (forget the opera, ask me again if interested), try Callas' version which is unforgettable.

I have always admired the world of Bach. Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas and Partitas along with Unaccompanied Cello suites move me without failure. Elgar's Cello Concerto is a nice piece. Sarasate's Ziegnerweisen performed by Heifetz should be heard -- only Heifetz, unlike other violinists who have tried the piece, has technical mastery to pull you into the music, sustain the tension, and ultimately drain your emotion like no other (Grumiaux recorded a fine one in an intimate setting with piano, albeit not as dramatic). Mahler's 9th. Debussy's piano pieces. On and on. For heavy metal fans, try Stargazer by Rainbow. Rainbow Eyes by Rainbow will make your ladies happy or put them in mood though a bit cheezy like their later albums. For melodic electric guitar instrumentals, Santana. For acoustic guitar, Strunz and Farah. For fun, any Deep purple MKII albums excluding the reunion albums after Perfect Stranger -- yes, I am a fan of Richie Blackmore. Any old time Chicago Blues.