50 of the Darkest Pieces of Classical Music
If you’re looking for some dark and depressing classical music to help you wallow in your misery, look no further! Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music.
The Dark Side of Classical Music
Music has always had the ability to evoke powerful emotions in its listeners. While some pieces of classical music are light and airy, others are much darker in nature. This list will explore some of the darkest pieces of classical music ever written. From eerie and haunting works to those that are just plain creepy, these pieces are sure to send a shiver down your spine.
The dark side of Bach
Bach is often thought of as the embodiment of light and happiness, but he also wrote some surprisingly dark and brooding pieces. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music, from Bach to Shostakovich.
The dark side of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist, who is arguably the defining figure in the history of Western music. He was born in 1770 into a family of moderate means, his father was a singer in the court of the Elector of Cologne and Beethoven’s grandfather – also named Ludwig – had been employed as a bass singer at the same court. Beethoven’s talent was evident from an early age and he was soon sent to study with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the newly appointed Court Organist.
Beethoven composed some of his most iconic works during the last 10 years of his life, when he was almost completely deaf. Among these are his 9th Symphony, considered by many to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, and his only opera, Fidelio. But alongside these towering achievements are a number of dark and melancholic works, which express the composer’s increasing isolation and despair.
Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music ever written:
1. Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica” – Ludwig van Beethoven
2. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 – Ludwig van Beethoven
3. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 – Ludwig van Beethoven
4. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral” – Ludwig van Beethoven
5. Piano Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia”, Op 27 No 2 “Moonlight” – Ludwig van Beethoven
6. String Quartet No 12 in E-flat major “Harp”, Op 127 – Ludwig van Beethoven
7.”Mondscheinsonate” or “Moonlight Sonata” Piano Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor “Quasi una fantasia”, Op 27 No 2 1st Movement – Ludwig van Beethoven 8.”Funeral March” Piano Sonata No 11 in B-flat major “Funeral March”, Op 23 3rd Movement – Ludwig van Beethoven 9.”Les Adieux: Le Voyage d’hiver: L’absence” Piano Sonata No 26 in E-flat major “Les Adieux”, Op 81a 3rd Movement – Ludwig van Beethoven 10.”Für Elise” Bagatelle for solo piano in A minor WoO 59 – Ludwig van Beethoven 11.”Marche funèbre pour la danse macabre” or “Funeral march for the dance of death” Symphonic Poem for orchestra/piano 4 hands S 123 (Opus posthume) – Franz Liszt 12.”Totentanz: Paraphrase über Dies irae Walter Rimmer London Proms Orchestra 2014 live recording13.”Nicolai Gedda conducts Verdi Requiem recorded 1974 Decca vinyl (Great Voices series)” Verdi Requiem 1st Movement: Requiem Aeternam
Pergolesi Stabat Mater streaming video14.”Stabat Mater dolorosa” Pergolesi Stabat Mater 1st Movement Pergolesi Stabat Mater streaming video15.”Bachianas brasileiras No 5 Aria (Cantilena)” Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras no 5 3rd movement Bachianas brasileiras streaming video16.”Adagio for Strings Orchestra Arrangement by Barber Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings scored for string orchestra YouTube link17.”Concerto for Violin Strings and Harpsichord in G minor RV 316 III Larghetto Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Vivaldi The Four Seasons YouTube link18.’The Death of Ase’ Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Suite no 2 op 55 YouTube link19.’The Valleys Die Away…’ from Six Pieces after Wace Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves YouTube link20.’Ruhe Sanft Mein Holdes Leben’ Zealand String Quartetperforming Mozart String Quartet K 465 YouTube link21.’Death Waltz’ Johann Strauss II Onyx brass playing John Williams composition based on The Death Waltz sheet music22.’Danse Macabre’ Camille Saint Saëns Decca vinyl recording Pekka Kuusisto violin Marieke Schneemann cello Osmo Vänskä conducting Finnish Radio Symp Orch rec 200823.’Dance Of The Dead’ Alexander Scriabin The Poem Of Ecstasy op 54 ISBN 04864041112484Carr & Orch Arrgt famously used as main theme to 1963 film The Haunting by Robert Wise24.’A Song Of Death’ Sergei Rachmaninoff USSR Symphonic Orch cond by Alexander melting pots Mikhailovitch dictatorship Gulbahceli rec 1964 25.’Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen…’ or ‘Where The Beautiful Trumpets Sound…!” Richard Strauss Tod und Verklärung or Death And Transfiguration op 24 TrV 158 4th movt30 Naxos Records CD 8 550730 rec 200231.'”Dies Irae”‘ Verdi Requiem 1st movt Public Domain Librivox recording32.'”Rex Tremendae Majestatis”‘ Verdi Requiem 2nd movt Public Domain Librivox recording33.'”Confutatis”‘ from Mozart’s Great Mass In C Minor K 42734.'”Recordare Jesu Pie”‘ from Berlioz’s Grande Messe des morts (Requiem) H 75 libretto by Lacordaire Composed 1837 scored for soloists chorus and orchestra35.'”Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe”‘ Verdi Requiem 3rd movt Public Domain Librivox recording36.'”Sanctus”‘ from Mozart’s Great Mass In C Minor K 427YouTube link37.'”In Paradisum”‘ from Faure’s Requiem 8th movement38.”Requiem Aeternam” Introitus Latin liturgical settings including Gregorian Chant39.”Kyrie” Gregorian Chant40.”Domine Jesu Christe” Gregorian Chant41.”Sanctus & Benedictus” Gregorian Chant42.”Agnus Dei” Gregorian Chant43.”Lacrymosa” Gregorian Chant44.”Dies Irae” Gregorian Chant45.”Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe” Gregorian Chant46.”Hostias et Preces tibi Domine” Gregorian Chant47.”Quam olim Abrahae” Gregorian Chant48.”. . . perpetua luce dignare””49”. Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine . . . quia pius es””50”. Grant them eternal rest O Lord . . .
The dark side of Brahms
Brahms is one of the most popular composers of classical music, known for his beautiful melodies and harmonies. But Brahms also had a dark side, which is reflected in some of his music. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music, written by Brahms and other composers.
1. Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
2. Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
3. Hector Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
4. Richard Wagner – Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Death and Funeral March
5. Richard Strauss – Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
6. Franz Liszt – Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S 514/1
7. Modest Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition: “The Great Gate of Kiev”
8. Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op 18
9. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade, Op 35: The Tale of the Kalendar Prince
10 Giuseppe Verdi – Requiem
The dark side of Chopin
Most people think of Chopin as a Romantic composer of beautiful piano music. Some of his music is light and airy, and his waltzes are among the most famous pieces in the classical repertoire. But Chopin was also a man who suffered from depression, and some of his music reflects his dark moods. Here are five of the darkest pieces by Chopin.
“Funeral March” from Piano Sonata No. 2
This piece was originally written as the third movement of Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2, but it is often performed on its own as a funeral march. It begins with a slow, mournful melody in the minor key, which is interrupted by a more upbeat section in the major key. But the overall mood of the piece is one of sadness and loss.
“Black Key” Etude
This etude gets its name from the fact that it is written entirely in black keys on the piano (which are the sharps and flats). It is a fast, virtuosic piece that is quite difficult to play, and it has a dark, almost menacing sound.
Prelude in C-sharp Minor
This prelude is one of Chopin’s most famous pieces, and it is known for its haunting melody and dark harmonization. It is written in minor key, which gives it a sad sound, and it features some unusual harmonic progressions that add to its intensity.
Prelude in B Minor
This prelude is another one of Chopin’s best-known pieces, and like the prelude in C-sharp minor, it has a dark, haunting sound. It begins with a slow melody in the left hand that is answered by a faster melody in the right hand. The overall effect is eerie and unsettling.
Funeral March from Sonata No. 2 ichopin black key eutde
The Dark Side of Romanticism
Romantic classical music is some of the most beautiful music ever written. But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Many of the greatest works of the Romantic period are dark, sometimes even morbid. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music.
The dark side of Berlioz
Berlioz was one of the most original and controversial composers of his day. His music was often described as dark, strange and even demonic. Much of his work was inspired by dark themes, such as death, murder and the supernatural. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music by Berlioz.
1. Symphonie Fantastique
2. La Damnation de Faust
3. Harold en Italie
4. Benvenuto Cellini
5. Les Nuits D’Ete
6. Te Deum
7. L’Enfance du Christ
8. Romeo et Juliette
9. Grande Messe des Morts (Requiem)
10. Le Corsaire
The dark side of Liszt
Franz Liszt was one of the most controversial and entertaining musicians of the Romantic period. He was a celebrated pianist and a prolific composer, but he was also known for his dark, brooding nature.
Liszt’s music often reflects his dark temperament, and some of his most famous pieces are steeped in melancholy and despair. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music by Franz Liszt:
1. B minor Sonata
2. “Funérailles”
3. Harmonies poétiques et religieuses No. 5, “Penthode funèbre”
4. Deuxième ballade hongroise in F minor
5. Mephisto Waltz No. 1
6. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
7. La lugubre gondola I & II
8. Unstern! Sinister! Disasters!
9. Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth
10. Les cloches de Malines
The dark side of Wagner
Wagner was one of the most controversial figures in classical music, and his operas are some of the most dark and complex pieces ever written. His work often dealt with complicated subjects like love, betrayal, and death, and he was known for his use of leitmotifs, which were recurring musical themes that represented different characters or ideas. Wagner’s music was often described as ” Wagnerian “, meaning that it was grandiose, dark, and full of driving rhythms.
The Dark Side of Modernism
Classical music is often thought of as peaceful and relaxing. However, there is a dark side to classical music as well. This playlist explores some of the darkest, most haunting pieces of classical music ever written. From eerie piano pieces to creepy orchestral works, these pieces will send chills down your spine.
The dark side of Bartók
Bartók’s music often explored the frightening and the nightmarish, as in his famous opera Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, where the Duke’s gruesome secret Room is gradually revealed. Other works, such as the String Quartet No. 4 and the Piano Sonata, also touch on dark and disturbing themes.
The dark side of Shostakovich
Few composers have captured the dark, brooding atmosphere of the 20th century like Dmitri Shostakovich. His music often deals with difficult subjects like war, repression, and death, painting a picture of a world that is anything but ideal. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces by Shostakovich, arranged in chronological order.
1. String Quartet No. 1 in C Minor (1924-1925)
2. Symphony No. 1 in F Minor (1925-1926)
3. “October” from The Seasons (1927)
4. String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor (1927)
5. ballet The Age of Gold (1929)
6. “Nigun” from Jewish Poems (1920-1950)
7. Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor ( 1931)
8.”Funeral March for the Death of a Hero” from Six Romances on Verses by English Poets (Op. 35b, 1932/33)
9.”The Pussycat’s Wedding” from Suite for Variety Orchestra No 1 (Opus 64a 1934/35)
10.”Passacaglia” from Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District (Opus 29 1934/35)
The dark side of Stravinsky
While Stravinsky is often hailed as one of the greats of 20th century classical music, there is also a dark side to his work. Many of his compositions are laced with elements of violence, tragedy and death. Here are 50 of the darkest pieces of classical music by Stravinsky:
1. “The Firebird” – 1910
2. “Petrushka” – 1911
3. “The Rite of Spring” – 1913
4. “Les Noces” – 1923
5. “Oedipus Rex” – 1927
6. “The Flood” – 1962
7. “Requiem Canticles” – 1966
8. “A Sermon, a Narrative, and a Prayer” – 1966
9. “Funeral Song” – 1974
