The saddest [instrumental] music you've ever listened to?

[Juddog]

This has some singing, but a good portion is instrumental. Zack Wylde's tribute to Dimebag Darrel of Pantera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0NCLvYI4FU

 

[CZroe]

Apocalyptica - Fade to Black

A Metallica cover

 

[Via]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ubdCWH2uOQ&feature=related

 

[CZroe]

Nice. There's a lot of good scores out there for video games. Obvious choice is the Final Fantasy games.

One of my favorites:

Celes' theme from FF 3

That sounds an awful lot like Itory Village in Enix's "Illusion of Gaia"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erKDJjWqjvs

"In the Earthen Womb" is my favorite from that game though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jPfPdW-5LM

Honorable mention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbA98pYh244

FWIW, these are straight from the SNES VGM score... not orchestrated.

Edit: That reminds me. The intro to Enix's "Wonder Project J2" on N64 goes through a wide range of emotions.
http://www.youtube.com/jevansturner#p/u/27/_WuzOFzXD6s
And, err, unemotional responses (the whole game is about raising a robot girl so that she becomes more human). They recap the lonely scientist's first creation, Pino (yes, like Pinocchio; from Wonder Project Jon SNES), sacrificing himself to save the world and then go on to his sudden death.

 

[Ichinisan]

That sounds an awful lot like Itory Village in Enix's "Illusion of Gaia"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erKDJjWqjvs

"In the Earthen Womb" is my favorite from that game though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jPfPdW-5LM

Honorable mention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbA98pYh244

FWIW, these are straight from the SNES VGM score... not orchestrated.

Edit: That reminds me. The intro to Enix's "Wonder Project J2" on N64 goes through a wide range of emotions.
http://www.youtube.com/jevansturner#p/u/27/_WuzOFzXD6s
And, err, unemotional responses (the whole game is about raising a robot girl so that she becomes more human). They recap the lonely scientist's first creation, Pino (yes, like Pinocchio; from Wonder Project J on SNES), sacrificing himself to save the world and then go on to his sudden death.

Broke the long WPJ2 music up because it takes too long to get to the good parts:

(Note: These are not the actual track titles)

Pino's epic sacrifice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WuzOFzXD6s#t=5m55s

Josette, the robot girl, plays ocarina:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WuzOFzXD6s#t=1m40s

Geppetto, the builder, dies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WuzOFzXD6s#t=3m27s

 

[Onceler]

I forgot the Adagio from Sparticus (instrumental. also is the main theme for Caligula).

 

[nanette1985]

I forgot the Adagio from Sparticus (instrumental. also is the main theme for Caligula).

Is that the Khachaturian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uopc8TdoUg&feature=related

Or is it a different composition? Some of the greatest music of our generation is being written for movies, TV and games.

 

[Onceler]

Is that the Khachaturian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uopc8TdoUg&feature=related

Or is it a different composition? Some of the greatest music of our generation is being written for movies, TV and games.

yes that's it

 

[GrassR00t]

This video and song (Baraka/Dead Can Dance)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwtr_-4vz6g

 

[FallenHero]

I agree with "Taps".
And if you don't think so wait until a man in a military uniform with a shiny brass bugle plays it at your father's burial.

Just had it played at my fiance' uncle's funeral. Vietnam vet with multiple medals. A very powerful moment.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Michael Giacchino - Life and Death from Lost Season 1 leaps to mind, though I agree it's probably not the saddest music ever.

 

[SWScorch]

Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean, by Explosions in the Sky. For years this has been the most depressing song I've ever heard, and I don't think any of your guys's suggestions can top it. It has this feeling of sadness and dread that I've never heard in any other song before. It's also a tribute to the Russian Navy soldiers who died in the Kursk submarine explosion.

Listen to it, at least the first couple minutes.

I am amazed it took so long for EITS to be mentioned here. I was going to post Greet Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd9F_liFXGM