Classical music can be beautiful and uplifting, but it can also be sad. And that’s what we’re showcasing today; the saddest classical songs ever made.
I hope you find what you’re looking for.
“Piano Sonata No. 9” by Alexander Scriabin
Song year: 1912
The piano music in the Piano Sonata No. 9 makes you sway back and forth as you feel the sadness of the piano player. The music goes from slow to fast and truly makes your heart race. It nearly has a wave of anger to it. You can see the tears sting the eyes of the one who wrote the music.
“Prelude in E minor” by Frédéric Chopin
Song year: 1839
When you listen to the music from Chopin, you can see a funeral procession in your head. You can imagine a loved one passing away and their close friends and family weeping heavily. The sad, slow music is the perfect addition to any wake or funeral.
When missing your grandfather on a particular day, listen to this song. You should feel closer to him.
“Piano Concerto No. 2” by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Song year: 1901
The strong and impressive music here will make you feel melancholy. The violins will make you sway in grief and think about the meaning of life. The mixture of joy and sadness throughout life is what makes it all the more incredible. It’s what makes music sound so majestic.
“Prelude in B Minor” by Frédéric Chopin
Song year: 1838
The deep and melancholy sounds from the piano make the Prelude in B Minor a truly miraculous piece of music. The slow and methodical song will make your heart weep and think of those cold winter nights. It’s the perfect song to listen to when feeling lonely and upset.
Let yourself grieve and cry as you listen to the sad classical song from Chopin.
“Gaspard de la Nuit” by Maurice Ravel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJRnNm_jhEs
Song year: 1908
The quick melody of Gaspard de la Nuit still has the tone of a sad and melancholy child. You can think of an anxiety-provoking disaster taking place, such as a small child getting lost outdoors in the middle of the night.
You can also hear the harp playing quickly in the background, which makes one think of losing someone they love dearly.
“Funeral March” by Frédéric Chopin
Song year: 1840
It doesn’t get much sadder than the Funeral March, which is often played at funeral processions. The song will surely make you cry and miss those loved ones who have died in your past.
The slow, methodical, and serious music will make you feel melancholy and quite upset. However, it should get you through these hard times and onto brighter days.
“Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU
Song year: 1801
The deep and powerful song from Ludwig van Beethoven will make you feel connected spiritually to the heavens above. Moonlight Sonata has low sounds with a slow and steady rhythm. Yet, the song picks up in spots and plays a bit faster.
It will truly make you feel connected to those you’ve lost in the past.
“Liebesleid” by Fritz Kreisler
Song year: 1905
The song by Fritz Kreisler has a lovely melody and a slow feel to it. You will experience a wide range of emotions listening to the music. You’ll move from generally content happiness to sorrow and longing. The music will keep your mind engaged while your body desires to dance.
It’s the perfect song to help you overcome those sorrowful feelings.
“Romance Des-dur Op. 24 No. 9” by Jean Sibelius
Song year: 1912
The slow piano music has both low and high tones. Essentially, it will tug on your heartstrings. You’ll feel up and down as you listen to the music. The seriousness is also felt. While the music may have a slow start, it picks up and continues onto a faster rhythm.
Whether you’re feeling sad about a break-up or having lost your job, the Jean Sibelius song is sure to help you grieve.
“Gymnopédie No. 1” by Erik Satie
Song year: 1888
The slow and sad melody in this song is sure to get you feeling nostalgic for those you miss or those fun days you’ve had in the past. You’re sure to miss the ones you love when listening to this beautifully sad song.
The music moves slowly enough to give you time to imagine those times or people you want to see again.
“Sonata No. 17” by Ludwig Van Beethoven
Song year: 1802
The fast feel of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 17 is sure to get your heart rate up and you feeling melancholy in no time at all. The music grows louder and goes back to quieter tones. It will rile up all the motions within you in a matter of seconds.
Take a listen and have a good cry.
“Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber
Song year: 1936
The song by Samuel Barber starts slowly and has a truly sad feel to it, as the violins and string instruments play an all-encompassing melancholy sound.
The music goes from higher to lower pitches while playing on the listeners’ heartstrings. Even when you’re having a wonderful day, the music is sure to make you feel a twinge of sadness.
“Adagio in G minor” by Tomaso Albinoni
Song year: 1958
When listening to Adagio in G Minor, you can hear the composition come together with all the musicians playing the same melody. The instruments have a louder sound at parts, and then a softer feel as the song continues.
The song may make you think of those lost times and old friends you never see anymore.
“Come, Sweet Death” by Johann Sebastian Bach
Song year: 1736
The organ music in the song by Johann Sebastian Bach can only make you think of losing a loved one and attending a funeral. The slow and powerful song is sure to bring a tear to your eye. Further, the low pitch will make you want to curl up and grieve those you’ve lost in the past.
“Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” by Henryk Gorecki
Song year: 1976
The low sounds in the Symphony of Sorrowful Songs begin to pick up after a few minutes as the music starts to play a bit faster. The violins and string instruments make your sorrow all the deeper. You won’t be able to stop yourself from crying when listening to these truly sorrowful songs.
“Dido’s Lament” by Henry Purcell
Song year: 1688
The Henry Purcell song comes from the opera Dido and Aeneas. As such, it includes a beautiful opera singer with a wonderful voice. The cello and string instruments bring a truly melancholy feel to this particular song. Your whole heart will fill with sadness as you listen to the sorrowful voice of the opera singer.
“Symphony No. 6, fourth movement” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Song year: 1878
The composition here from Tchaikovsky is truly miraculous. It brings together the sounds of so many beautiful instruments. The high and low pitches with the fast rhythm make the song fill up your entire chest with emotions. You’re sure to feel a twinge of sadness when listening to the melancholy music.
“Spiegel im Spiegel” by Arvo Pärt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ6Mzvh3XCc
Song year: 1978
The slow piano music combined with string instruments invites thoughts of lonely days and how quickly life goes by. If you’re feeling sad and in need of a good cry, you’ll want to listen to the Spiegel im Spiegel classical song. It’s sure to bring you comfort on your saddest day, as it shows how we all feel those sorrowful emotions.
“Symphony #3” by Henryk Gorecki
Song year: 1976
The song starts slowly at a low pitch. It begins to pick up after a few minutes, with more instruments joining in. Essentially, the song here has a sorrowful feel and is sure to bring tears to your eyes. If you’re having a tough day, the Gorecki song will allow you to let go and weep freely.
“Piano Concerto No. 21” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Song year: 1785
The classical music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created often has a strong emotional balance to it. Here, you will feel an overwhelming sadness as the many instruments come together to create a harmony you won’t soon forget. The piano with the string instruments will make you want to sway and dance.
“Death Speaks” by David Lang
Song year: 2013
This slow musical composition has a strong voice singing along with a slow piano playing in the background. The powerful voice makes you think of the sorrow that death brings upon us all. The slow violin also speaks volumes, as the music makes you think about how fast life goes by.
“Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Song year: 1791
The last composition that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote before his death was Requiem. As such, he must have had his health and potential death on his mind when he wrote it.
You can hear it in the song. The composition includes operatic singers along with slow violin music. The song makes one think of funerals and leaving loved ones behind.
“Nimrod” by Edward Elgar
Song year: 1898
The song Nimrod comes from Elgar’s Enigma Variations composition. The slow music comes together beautifully and provides a rather sad feeling, as it makes one think about their best days and old friends they haven’t seen in years.
Saddest Classical Songs Ever, Final Thoughts
We hope that you’ve benefited from sifting through the list of sad classical songs. They should help you grieve those unfortunate times and, hopefully, move on to happier things in your life.