Instrumental / classical pieces of music to cry to

[Shudacudawuda]

The title sounds sad doesn't it! But I mean this in a healthy 'emotional release' kind of way. Keeps me balanced.

I currently have a favourite piece of music that often moves me to tears and very occasionally I like to submerge myself in it and let the tears come.
It's called Shape of my Heart by Michael Logozar and it's absolutely beautiful.

I'd love some suggestions for other pieces like this if anyone has any? I can't keep listening to the same piece over and over again.
Do others do this too or am I a very sad individual?

Wow, amazing response, thanks so much each and every one of you.
I'm compiling a Playlist and will work my way through them all. Keep them coming!

(I'm going to be a wreck later aren't I 😭)

Joins sobfest

The Consolations of Philosophy by Max Richter. I can’t listen to that song without welling up. I can’t really listen to it at all these days. But it’s a beautiful song. Also by Max Richter, Sunlight.

Epilogue by Olafur Arnalds (it was featured in the film Nomadland which, if you want to cry and feel spiritually cleansed, watch this movie!).

By the Roes, and by the Hinds of the Field by Johan Johannsson

My favourite is Shostakovich's 2nd piano concerto, movement 2. It fills me with such a strange sense of sad nostalgia which I don't get from anything else. It's such a beautiful piece.

Sorry my sentence structure was terrible in my previous post… but the point is, those 3 songs are tearjerkers for sure.
Excellent thread, by the way. I love a good cry to sad songs. It’s such a release.

Banks of Green Willow is the one that makes my eyes leak watcherintherye - there's a section where I can just see all the young lads walking on the river bank with their sweethearts on a summer day. For the last time .

Watching!

current one is Sira - ablaye cissoko

One of my melancholic faves:
Saint-Saens - The Swan from Carnival of the Animals

Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Part. The first time I listened to this it caught me totally unawares, I am often moved by music but this triggered an emotional release I really needed. It's my go-to piece of music now when I need a cathartic cry.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=qSeg69d3CQ8

The Adagietto from Mahler's fifth

and Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings

Sorry - Beethoven piano no 5

💔 Listening to this now.

It seems from some of the other answers that I might have misinterpreted — I don't experience any of the options I gave as sad, though they are the ones I've found most likely to make me cry (along with a few others here and there, including some Beethoven). It's more of a sense of emotional overwhelm at the ongoing physical frisson effects, and at the sense of… beauty, I guess, rather than sadness. So maybe skip my suggestions if you were specifically looking for sad music. Except the Rach 2, 2nd movement, which does have some really sad bits.

Adagio for strings for me too (especially if watching Platoon!)

Another beautiful and moving instrumental piece from the amazingly talented Keaton Henson

Bach - Double Violin Concerto in D minor 2nd movement, Largo

Puccini - O Mio Babbino Caro

Arvo Pärt- Spiegel im Spiegel

(^I see this one has just been mentioned as I was typing!)

Ennio Morricone -The Mission Theme - Gabriel's Oboe

Oh, and if you want something very different you could try Nick Cave’s Weeping Song (‘This is a weeping song A song in which to weep…’)

The Light by The Album Leaf

So much (sad) emotion in a modern day song with no words

The Prelude to Act 1 of Verdi's La Traviata for me.

This. Beautiful piece of music

I understand what you are saying here. I'm moved by music not just because it can be sad but sometimes because a chord progression or a well placed minor can trigger a surge of emotion. It can be euphoric that makes me cry too. In fact the piece I recommended (by Arvo Part) sometimes makes me feel very peaceful and calm, or makes me think of a perfect moment watching a sunrise or it can bring up sadness too. I think we can all respond differently to different pieces too. My DH adores some movements that do absolutely nothing for me and vice versa.

Faure - Pavane
Satie - Gnossienne No2 (Even the directions to the pianist are emotive...one says "without pride")
Cesar Franck - Symphonie No 1
Lennox Barclay - Sonatina for flute and piano, especially part 2

Touch her soft lips and part - from Walton's Henry V suite
Peace Piece - Bill Evans
Sleepfall - Anthony Phillips
Small Moments - Above and Beyond