Upsetting/moving classical music for a drama performance?

I am doing a drama exam for my GCSEs and need to find some music that will go inbetween a couple of the scene changes. The music needs to be a sad, slow paced music as the play is meant to be quite upsetting. Does anybody have any ideas as to what music i could use that would be suitable for sad moments/scene changes? (ie somebody gets shot and we need some music that will help to create an upsetting atmosphere),preferably classical music that isnt very well known, thank you

Upsetting/moving classical music for a drama performance?

-(Myspace music www.myspace.com)

Samuel Barber 'Adagio for Strings' is really moving and makes me cry every time.

Upsetting/moving classical music for a drama performance?

-(Myspace.com graphics myspace.com)

Does it have to be classical? If not, there's a nice little piece by Brian Eno called An Ending (Ascent) that fits the emotion of your piece perfectly. The only thing is, I think it probably is quite well known because I hear it a lot in films, TV shows etc.

If that wouldn't work, try some of Erik Satie's more mournful piano pieces. Good luck! :-)
'Adagio for Strings' by the American composer Samuel Barber, or Mozart's Requiem are both very moving. You might like Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5
I would take a Look at Benjamin Brittens Nocturnal, it has what you need and is not so well known at all.
Brief extract from Section 16 - 'Crucifixion' by Stainer where darkness falls as Jesus is crucified. There's a very creepy organ pedal passage but it does not last long!

Alternatively, the well known Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor by

J S Bach
Gustav Holst: Invocation For Cello and Orchestra. This is on the Naxos CD label. Also, Holst's Song Of The Night, on The Wandering Scholar CD, Chandos Records.

Both are not well known, and are fairly moving but not actually upsetting.

Another piece is The Swan by Camille Saint Saens. It is a moving gentle peace, and not upsetting.

Try also The Dove, by Ottorino Respighi, from The Birds (Gli Uccelli).

Try also some of the music by Turlough O'Carolan, as he composed a few sad pieces.
"Agnus Dei" from Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major; it's very mournful and beautiful. You can hear it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_No._2_...

"Selig sind, die da Leid tragen . . . ", the first movement from Brahms' German Requiem.

The hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (often remembered for its recurring line of " . . . for those in peril on the sea").

Chopin's Nocturne in C# Minor.

The Adagio movement from Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 in E minor.
I recomend a few things, as I like to be creative I myself would "mix" emotions.

For example this piece "Symphony No.5-Movment IV: Adagietto" by Mahler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duSL3y2LA...

here it is used in a movie:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTP7XFVGn...

Here is an other, "Requiem-Lacrimosa" by Mozart

the Requiem was Mozart's last work and this movment was his last movment, in this video at 0:55 was his last note ever written as the rest of the Requiem was finished by someone else (he only finished about half of the Requiem). Any way last word about this piece is that a Requiem is a piece written about the dead and usally dedicated to a notable person. In this case its belived it was Mozarts father.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqPz5B-TA...

Thats it

PS if you have a scene where the person is killed or their is a chotic moment use this:

Quartet No. 8- movment II by Shostakovich

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjvTTfbpW...

Enjoy and good luck!
Toccata and fugue in D minor by Bach

Take a look at this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_FXoyr_FyFw
How about Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Der Brautraub (The Abduction of the Bride).

Immediately came to my mind after reading what you need.

If you want something REALLY unsettling, try Penderecki's Threnody For The Victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6dx0TN0I_Io
These pieces by Elgar may do

Sospiri

Elegy

Slow movement 2nd Symphony
Barber's Adagio for Strings.
Try something from faure's requiem - maybe Pie Jesu
I'm a musician, and whilst I would once have suggested the Albinoni Adagio, or the Barber Adagio for Strings, I can't help thinking that the most heart-rending melody is that written by John Williams for the theme of "Schindler's List."

It is almost unbearable, and one of the truly great sad melodies of all time.