"Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber has inspired me all my life and lifted my heart heavenward on every listening.
Living only a few miles from Edward Elgar's birthplace in the foothills of the Malverns where he often roamed and drew inspiration for a lot of his music, I grew up surrounded by and loving his music. This piece Nimrod from the Enigma Variations is both beautiful and inspiring Variation IX (Adagio) 'Nimrod' Augustus J. Jaeger was employed as music editor by the London publisher Novello & Co. He was a close friend of Elgar, giving him useful advice but also severe criticism, something Elgar greatly appreciated. Elgar later related how Jaeger had encouraged him as an artist and had stimulated him to continue composing despite setbacks. The name of the variation refers to Nimrod, an Old Testament patriarch described as 'a mighty hunter before the Lord' – Jäger being German for hunter. In 1904 Elgar told Dora Penny ('Dorabella') that this variation is not really a portrait, but 'the story of something that happened'. Once, when Elgar had been very depressed and was about to give it all up and write no more music, Jaeger had visited him and encouraged him to continue composing. He referred to Ludwig van Beethoven, who had a lot of worries, but wrote more and more beautiful music. "And that is what you must do", Jaeger said and he sang the theme of the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 Pathétique. Elgar disclosed to Dora that the opening bars of 'Nimrod' were made to suggest that theme. "Can’t you hear it at the beginning? Only a hint, not a quotation." This variation has become popular in its own right and is sometimes used at British funerals, memorial services, and other solemn occasions. It is always played at the Cenotaph, Whitehall in London on Remembrance Sunday. A version was also played during the Hong Kong handover ceremony in 1997 and at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. It was also the last piece ever played by the Greek Symphonical Orchestra (besides the Greek National Anthem) when it closed down in June 2013.
As I was going through youtube's songs I came across a song that's fitting as well. I love this song because it's a phrase that's life to me and keeps me going. By Misora Hibari English translation done so nicely too by Larry Kenny.