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The Andante from Beethoven's 5th Symphony, opus 67 (1808)

If you ever want to see a grown man cry, slap on the 2nd movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, the Andante, at any time within sight of me. If I am angry, it will calm me. If I am being sweet, it will sweeten me more. For my buck, it is the most beautiful piece of music ever composed. I think about this work when people fly planes into buildings, when I'm mourning over lost friends and lost love, and at other times when I've generally lost hope - because it brings it back. It makes me realize that we can make a difference, that we were all brought here for a reason and that that legacy can be one of beauty - if we chose it to be. True, it has nothing to do with electro-acoustic music, but everything about the emotion that can encompass any music - if we chose it to. The following was taken from the Teldec release of the 5th Symphony, conducted by Nicolaus Hardoncourt and performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Teldec 2292-46452-2) - about the best recording of the Beethoven symphonies I've ever heard. Click here for a short excerpt of the most beautiful piece of music ever composed