Saddest Song Ever, Barber's Adagio, Theme from Platoon, Andrzej Kucybała conductor

I love this beautiful music which brings back memories of my good friends killed in Vietnam back in 1970. We were young and thought that we were invincible. We flew combat missions as helicopter door gunners in support of U..S. ground troops. Some "choppers" got shot down in the course of the year I was there. I was very fortunate though there were several close calls while flying combat assaults in enemy territory. I will always take time to listen to this music with much sadness and reverence to the memory of my fallen comrades. Door gunner, 119th Assault Helicopter Company, Camp Galloway (Pleiku) and Camp Radcliff ( An Khe). II Corps South Vietnam.

The twentieth century saw innovation and upheaval (and the twenty-first century is well on course to do the same) with two world wars, an economic depression in between, political and social revolutions, and the worst inhumanities and unspeakable atrocities. Whether Samuel Barber realized it or not, he created a piece of such unique pathos and somber reflection that transcends all of this and makes no apology for not being "modern". For all their attempts to be innovative and do something to mark themselves as contributing something revolutionary and forward-looking in music, rhythmically and harmonically complex, and often devoid of memorable melody, the efforts of many of the most famous composers of classical music of the twentieth century pale in comparison to this singular exquisite pithy composition. It will always stand the test of time - as Hans Christian Andersen said, " where words fail,music speaks." And it speaks to each of us- in reading many of the comments here, it clearly speaks very deeply, very personally, very powerfully to us. Its meaning is eternal and unforgettable.

Amazing!!! Not sad, but inspiring and beautiful

Saddest song ever? Does not seem sad to me. Relaxing and reflective maybe.

I play violin but I’m too young to join the band.

Took my breath away.

These young musicians are unbelievable - Talents from God himself.

That's that song from Seinfeld !

Just beautiful.

Pukka tune

The arrangement does indeed convey sadness..........

I saw Platoon all those years ago. My grandfather was in the 1st world war. My dad and his two brothers served during Korea and one of his brothers returned in a flag draped coffin. This music brings me to tears every time I hear it or even think about it. Thank you to everyone who served or is serving in our military ❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Superbe

I served in the US Navy from 1969 to 1971 In in Vietnam my first year I was on a supply ship on the coast second year I was sent to NASA Da Nang a real support unit I wasn’t a hero never wanted to be one my hats off to you boys Who humped the boonies my heart aches for the 57,000+ names on the wall they are the only true heroes

Truth thru Music.

Beautiful. Thank you.

This gets me every time. What talented young people to pull off such a masterful performance.

Eine endlos schöne Musik

Featured in the film Rollerball in the 70`s .

Wow... Beautiful.

Film poignant , puissant , musique sublime

Splendid. Thank you!

I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful orchestra.

Reminds me of our border war in Angola and the friends we lost. Salute to all who are brothers in Arms

Wonderful music & Poland have much to be proud of! 👏👏👏🙏

Wonderful.

piekne, dziekuje pieknie

Beutiful music..

superb... just the best

I watched this Twice…… the second time was to just meditate on the young, beautiful, innocence I witnessed. I was 18 when I went, boots on ground, 1968, USMC….. so filled with righteous purpose and conviction. It doesn’t matter is we were right or wrong. The Us Government, the VC, North Vietnam… etc, etc, etc…..watching the Youthful Healthy boy and girls playing this Piece, is so fitting for it reminds me that we truly need to as The Book of Isaiah contains the following passage: "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
We need to guard our greatest resource, The Children and their Innocence. Us Vets lost ours! That the tragedy we suffer and need to Embrace…..fully! Only then will we heal. You must realize you will never ever regain that innocence. You will never be like others walking beside you as you walk the streets of where you live. I went back in 2010…..for no other reason but to finally experience the Beauty without someone shooting at me. No OTHER reason. But when I ended up on Easter Sunday morning at a Catholic Church in Nha Trang…. And walked in to the Vietnamese youth choir practicing, the whole reality of the implications of the Innocence we destroyed like these kids hit me and I started to cry profusely. It hit me not so much the damage that was inflicted on me by going to War, but what I inflicted on others. True maturity is not taking responsibility for your actions but understanding how your actions affect others.
I embrace my nightmares, the not sleeping well, because it’s only by walking through these moments of flashbacks and overwhelming accompanying emotions do I now heal quickly and go on with my Most Extraordinary Life. The VA has been so Indispensable in their treatments available, their programs, studies I’ve participated in….their physical health Doctors and Nurses and staff in my having A Life after Vietnam.
War again is looming on the Horizon…. We must find a way to protect the Innocent like these exquisitely beautiful children. FYI…. Every Vietnam Vet should read this book. last night i dreamed of peace summary by a Young Vietnam Cong Female Doctor stationed along the Ho Chi Minh Trail …it’s her diary… it was interesting to read her entries on the days I was in her area and see her view from her side of the perimeter

Beautiful but what's most amazing is the audience. You know it is not America when the people are respectful. The few kids are not running around "look at me, look at me"!!! No one is eating or talking. Everyone seems transfixed.

Although mainly recognized for appearing in "Platoon", this score could be overplayed on a video montage of the cruelty of any war, past or present, and it would still have the same impact on the soul, I believe.

Just close your eyes and let your mind take you there, just fly away.

The saddest melody I know is Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar & Molly Mason. And the one with lyrics is "Alone again, Naturally", by Gilber O'Sullivan. But if you know Spanish, the tango "Volver" (The Return) by Carlos Gardel is devastating to the soul and the memories.

EIght years after making this wonderful recording it is still giving pleasure. My thanks!

The girl in the backroung was best. I love her.

"You are not my mate and you are not my fellow DJ ! "

Very moving.. incredible performance

Lovely rendition. I wonder who the hot blonde violinist is?

The total cruelty of war. The wonder of music. Make music, not war.

What beauty! I was 199th LIB
" Fireball One Five" in the OH 58 " Kiowa" in 1970 then B Troop, 3/17th " Stogie Six Alpha" in OH 58 and Hueys in 1971. We lost some good people and I pray that those young men recognize this broken, tired old Man on
" Fiddler's Green". We did our best.

I've visited Museum in Saigon. What Westerners did to Vietnamese... unbelievable atrocities...

Great movies have great soundtracks

Just beautiful.

Music to the Agnus Dei
(Lamb of God)latin

so many talented people

Beautiful compo but heard it so many times I became numb to it's beauty.

I hear the wop, wop, wop of the helicopter rotors, Elias running in slow motion, A call from the Hueys pilot...guns, guns, guns,....CHILLING!

2 movies that have caused veterans to get up and leave, the pain to hard. Platoon, and Saving Private Ryan. I watched grown men cry and leave. They all break my heart. As a Marine that served from the mid 80's until my retirement, it's all to personal when your oldest brother died during Vietnam, and father served from Korea till 1987. It's a heavy burden to bear. I grieved for my brother, but I was just a kid and really did not know him. It destroyed my parent. Then my middle brother became a fighter pilot in the Navy, then along came me.