Music to sooth a troubled soul...

[horace]

I'll be frank - 2016 was a truly crappy year for me, and I find myself jettisoned into 2017 feeling utterly world weary. 

The hifi has been silent for a while, as my efforts to choose music to listen to have proved fruitless. 

I need music that will restore my faith in existence, blow away the heartaches and revive my flagging spirit. 

Not asking for much then. 

When the chips are down and life gets grimly serious, what do you listen to? 

Cheers

Martin

 

[Audio Al]

Can I be Frank please   

Tears for Fears any albums 

Simple Minds ( New Gold Dream )

Oleta Adams  ( Circle of One )

 

[minorrevival]

I lose myself completely in Handel's keyboard suites. There's a great version performed by Gavrilov and Richter on two double CD sets:

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or, if you can find it, on LP:

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[Von Krolock]

Chin up Martin, hope 2017 is better than last.

 

[jkbmusic]

I could not resist a flippant response first.

"You can walk my path
You can wear my shoes
Learn to talk like me and be an angel too

But maybe you ain't never gonna feel this way
You ain't never gonna know me, but I know you
I'm singing it now
Things can only get better
Can only get better if we see it through
That means me and I mean you too
So teach me now that things can only get better
They can only get, they only get, take it on from here
You know I know that things can only get better"
Now on a more serious note (pun intended  ;-) ). The last thing you should listen to is music that makes you feel sad, what you need is the opposite. I found surprisingly that Blues, either traditional, or modern rock interpretations, has the desired opposite effect.
Something like The Rolling Stones, or something more traditional like B.B.King.

 

[musicbox]

Its very difficult to muster any appetite for music when one is feeling down and depressed.  But one piece that always restores me is Beethoven's Eroica.  It has plenty of life and bounce, and profound bits too, especially the slow movement which might provide some catharsis.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Gewandhausorchester-Leipzig-Riccardo-Chailly/dp/B005ULF7IO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1483533031&sr=8-6&keywords=chailly+beethoven

The 4th symphony is good fun, kind of like a knees-up on Mt Olympus.

 

[Springbeg]

The opening bars of Respighi's 'Il Cucu' from his suite Gli Uccelli (The Birds) are like a shaft of sunlight following a storm.



There are many fine recordings to be had.  Two I favour are Dorati on Mercury Living Presence and a stunning modern recording on sacd by Henry Raudales and the Munich Radio Orchestra (CPO label).

 

[Ears]

Agreed. Haydn's Opus 20 string quartets always make me feel better.

Or try Schubert's Trout quintet, the original feel good music?

 

[Von Krolock]

Grieg always lifts my spirits, this recording particularly.

 

[Von Krolock]

Can I be Frank please   

Tears for Fears any albums 

Simple Minds ( New Gold Dream )

Oleta Adams  ( Circle of One )

Some nice albums there Al. That lass Oleta can sing.

 

[Andrei]

Its very difficult to muster any appetite for music when one is feeling down and depressed.  But one piece that always restores me is Beethoven's Eroica.  It has plenty of life and bounce, and profound bits too, especially the slow movement which might provide some catharsis.

+1  If you can possibly do it get hold of the DVD of Barenboim conducting the Berlin Philly.  It will take you on a journey and at the end of it you emerge strengthened.  Any good performance will do, but the video helps.  

 

[Audio Al]

Some nice albums there Al. That lass Oleta can sing.

She sure can sing , Her work with TFF " Woman in chains" is to my ears very special 

 

[Von Krolock]

She sure can sing , Her work with TFF " Woman in chains" is to my ears very special 

It is.
Oleta's 'Evolution' is a wonderful album.

 

[horace]

Thank you 

I've put together quite a playlist based on the suggestions so far. I have most of the classical stuff - that Karajan recording of the Grieg is an old favourite, so I might start with that. 

I shall be turning the wick up and scaring the neighbours. 

A good Beethoven 9 to finish, methinks. Any suggestions for the ultimate recording of that? I have the 1960s and 1980s DG Karajans, but have always meant to look further. 

Cheers 

I'm feeling better already. 

 

[batteredhaggis]

Ode to Joy - pffft. Sends me straight back to the place I'm trying to crawl out of! The better the hifi, the worse the effect. But YMMV!

I quite like some Copland if I'm feeling a bit low, but it works for all moods. There's wide open space that lets you think, but it's inhabited, not the vastness that some music has you whirling into.

Appalachian Spring has moments of sheer joy and I find the twilit ending contemplative and anything but depressing. The Hoe-Down from Rodeo is good for a quick kick up the jacksie, and scaring the neighbours off could be considered a form of therapy in itself.

I second (or third) Oleta for a pick me up too!

Here's to you mate.

 

[Andrei]

I just remembered something.  A Frenchman (can't remember the name, sorry) was asked what music should one listen to.  I have never forgotten his reply.  His words were to the effect of: You should always listen to music of the mood you are currently in.  I must have heard / read this 30 years ago but it has always stuck with me.

 

[JANDL100]

Ah, Berlioz' March to the scaffold, then.

Beethoven 9 - I like Bohm / VPO.  Also try Menuhin (a fine conductor).

 

[awkwardbydesign]

If you wish to be uplifted, almost anything by Haydn would fit the bill.

Good choice, but for me Mozart even more.  I love a bit of classical I can whistle along with!

And the first classical music I liked, Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, the Academy of St Martin's version with Neville Marriner on Decca.  The icy flow of Winter always gives me tingles.

 

[minorrevival]

Good choice, but for me Mozart even more.  I love a bit of classical I can whistle along with!

And the first classical music I liked, Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, the Academy of St Martin's version with Neville Marriner on Decca.  The icy flow of Winter always gives me tingles.

Also the four seasons with Sparf on violin on the BIS label, which I first heard about on this forum. A dramatic performance and superbly recorded.