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Pieces written in mourning

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I've always been fascinated by the idea of music written as emotional response to the composer's circumstances, and music written in mourning of others fits into that category.

What are some of your favorite pieces written under that particular circumstance?

Some I can think of off the top of my head include:

Bach's Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin in dm: Ciaccona (referenced by some as a lament for his wife)

Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Trio

Berg's Violin Concerto

Hindemith's Trauermusik

Schnittke's Second Quartet and Piano Quintet.

Mahler 9, contemplating his own death.

Not sure if that really works, but w.e.

Schumann's Nachtstücke - written in mourning the death of his older brother.

I remember Chopin had a piece (for piano duh,,) he had written in respons to the death of his sister. I forgot which one it was. Maybe some of you know what piece I mean?

I remember Chopin had a piece (for piano duh,,) he had written in respons to the death of his sister. I forgot which one it was. Maybe some of you know what piece I mean?

He wrote two funeral marches, maybe it was one of those.

  • 2 months later...

This topic reminds me of an article that violist Paul Groh wrote "Elegiac Reaction" where he notes that the viola has become somewhat the mourner-in-chief of musical instruments.... You'll find mention of lots of pieces there around this theme.

I know that you are asking for favorites - the Berg Violin Concerto would certainly rank as one of my own.

Didn't Ives write an elegy for his pet cat?

Howells Requiem and Hymn Paradisi

brahms horn trio. the 3rd mov ( must listen! ) is written after his mums (?) death, and the 4th mov quotes some religious hymn. in the same time he was working on his requiem.

Venantius Fortunatus' Crux Fidelis. I have no idea of his circumstances when writing this, but it is very apparently deeply felt.

Beethoven's Eroica. Its second movement actually mourns Napoleon - who Beethoven considered "dead" as soon as he crowned himself Emperor.

Didn't he complete the score before Napoleon turned out to be trolling?

Yeah, he did.

If I'm not mistaken, he did change the movement as well.

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