Saddest Piece of Classical Music

Samuel Barber was born in 1910 in Pennsylvania, America.

His Adagio for Strings is his most famous work. Originally written as part of a string quartet when he was only 26 years old, it was later made into a separate piece for orchestra, which is the way it is usually played today. The piece has been said by some to be the "saddest piece of classical music", and has been in many movies. In 2001 it was played at the World Trade Center in commemoration of all the lives lost. I've read comments from the families of those victims say that this piece has touched their souls and gotten them through a lot. It's hard to imagine how Barber at such a young age had the insight to write such a deeply-felt, excruciatingly sad piece of music. Here is a performance of the Adagio for Strings. This is one of the most amazingly beautiful, rich, harmonious pieces ever written. Listen to the pathos and weep!

Another notable version of the piece is Barber's arrangement for 8-part choir, set to the text "Agnus dei" (referring to Jesus Christ - "Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us..."). Powerful music!