We asked an expert to explain why Dido's Lament breaks our heart every single time

24 March 2017, 15:31 | Updated: 6 January 2021, 16:24

Is it possible to hear this masterpiece by Purcell without sobbing? We think emphatically not. So we asked harpsichordist and conductor Trevor Pinnock to explain exactly how Purcell reduces us to tears every time.

Dido's Lament from Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas is arguably the saddest piece of music ever written. But how exactly does Purcell manipulate our emotions to make sure we well up each and every time we hear it?

We popped round to the house of legendary harpsichordist and conductor Trevor Pinnock to ask him to explain what Purcell's doing in this world-famous aria and what makes it such a tear-jerker.

1 A five-bar ground-bass against a nine-bar melody

Bear with us, we realise we've gone very technical very early on here. But, as Trevor explains, the fact that the melody carries on over the end of one phrase of the ground-bass means you're welling up from the get-go.

Trevor Pinnock's guide to Dido's Lament

Why is Dido's Lament by Purcell so utterly heartbreaking? We asked the legendary Trevor Pinnock to break it down for us.

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

2 The 'Remember Me' motif

Ah, that yearning melody. But what exactly makes it sound like the devastated cry of a woman parted forever from her lover? Trevor is here to explain:

Trevor Pinnock's guide to Purcell's Dido's Lament

Why exactly is Dido's Lament by Purcell so terribly sad? We asked Trevor Pinnock to explain.

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

 

3 Leaning appoggiaturas in the melody line

These ornaments (similar to grace notes or passing notes) pepper this aria. And that's part of Purcell's masterplan to get you weeping into your opera glasses:

Trevor Pinnock's guide to Dido's Lament – and why it makes us cry

What makes Dido's Lament so unbearably sad? We asked an expert (the legendary Trevor Pinnock) to explain

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

4 Falling phrases in the melody

These, Trevor explains, basically = DESPAIR.

Trevor Pinnock's guide to Dido's Lament by Purcell

We asked the brilliant Trevor Pinnock to explain why exactly Dido's Lament has us in bits every time.

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

5 A series of appoggiaturas in the strings

Yes, it's these sneaky little ornaments again, getting into your heart and making it break.

Trevor Pinnock's guide to Dido's Lament

We asked the brilliant Trevor Pinnock to explain why exactly Dido's Lament breaks our heart into tiny pieces

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

 

But does Dido's Lament still break Trevor Pinnock's heart?

He's heard it countless times, directed it from the harpsichord almost as often and studied it in detail, so does Purcell's masterful aria still break Trevor Pinnock's heart?

Trevor Pinnock still finds Dido's Lament unbearably sad

Trevor Pinnock has heard and conducted Dido's Lament countless times, but he still find it utterly heart-wrenching…

Posted by Classic FM on Wednesday, 6 January 2016

 

And here's the whole thing

Best grab a tissue.