Composers and Works that make you cry

[donjuan]

I saw gattaca.  Great movie.  I really thought the ending was sad, when Jude Law kills himself..sniff..

I was watching the Great Pianists of the twentieth century video, and I nearly cried at the very end while Claudio Arrau was playing that Beethoven Sonata (now which one was that...)

[trunks]

There are a handfull of pieces that have actually moved myself to tears when I play them:

CHOPIN: Scherzo No.2 in Bb minor, Op.31
LISZT: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca; Il Lamento; Un Sospiro

There are lots of other very touching piano works:

BEETHOVEN:
Sonatas: Pathetique (1,2); Les Adieux (2)
Concerto: No.4 (1)

CHOPIN:
Nocturnes 1, 2, 13, 19 (, 20)
Sonatas No.2 & 3 (1,3)
Ballade No.1, 4
Etude Op.25 No.1, 5, 11 (lyrical section), 12
Concertos No.1 & 2 (1,3)

LISZT:
Hungarian Rhapsody No.5 (Hero's Elegy)
Mazeppa (lyrical section), Ricordanza, Harmonies du Soir (Transcendental No.4, 9, 11)
Funerailles (lyrical section)
Sonetto 47, 123 del Petrarca
Apres un Lecture du Dante (lyrical section)
Liebestraumes 1-3
Sonata in B minor (lyrical section)
Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este - Threnody I (Annees de Pelerinage III, No.2)
Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este - Threnody II (Annees de Pelerinage III, No.3)
Concerto No.2 in A

BRAHMS:
Intermezzo Op.117 No.2
Piano Concerto No.2 Op.83 (1)

ST. SAENS: Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor Op.22 (1)

RACHMANINOFF:
Polichinelle Op.3 No.4 (lyrical section)
Prelude in G minor Op.23 No.5 (lyrical section)
Etude Tableaux Op.39 No.5 (what a sombre "threnody"!)
Concerto No.2 in C minor Op.18 (whole work, but especially Movements 1,2);
I don't have a thing about the Rachmaninoff No.3.

DEBUSSY: La plus que lente
RAVEL: Concerto in G (1)
ALKAN: Concerto for Solo Piano (1: Op.39 No.8)

ADDINSELL (Richard): Warsaw Concerto (I think this is one of the rarities in a way that it has emerged from film music into classical music status)

Some touching non-piano works:

TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D, Op.35(1)
By the way I never had a thing about his Piano Concerto No.1 Op.23

MENDELSSOHN: Violin Conerto
BRUCH: Scottish Fantasy
MASSENET: Meditation from Thais

[pies]

­

[thierry13]

Well when i feel bad when i play the nocturne no. 20 of chopin i allways cry...and i allready made cry someone playing this. And same when i feel happy, it give me goosebumps!

[Spatula]

Some songs from Nobou Uematsu, Final Fantasy piano collection, puts a tear in my eye.. the reflective sad stuff

[jennbo]

i have an obsession with scriabin's etude op. 8 no. 12 at this moment
i listened to horowitz/ argerich versions of it.
i think my life's complete

[Shagdac]

One piece that comes to mind is Schumann's
"Widmung".

I don't think so much that it sounds sad, I just find it so awesomely beautiful that it moves me to tears.

[eugene_oneg]

For years Chopin nocturne 20 in c#minor would unfailingly bring me to tears every time I heard it. It is profoundly sad and at the same time so powerfully lucid, lively and unresigned that it is heartbraking.
I found the russian pianist Sofronitzky playing of it especially moving.

Schumann Widmung, yes! played by Paderewsky on Perl's historical recording. It has a peacefull, timeless quality.

Some of JS Bach Prel & Fugues as played by Tatianna Nikolayeva and one of the English suite played by Glenn Gould (F# min?). (It has to be those perfomers!)

The Beethoven sonata played by Claudio Arrau (great pianist of the XXth century video) is the Op. 111 last movmt. But to me Op. 110 is the one and the Waldstein.

I read a similar anecdote to the one about Beethoven but about Chopin bursting into laughter satisfied that he had brought tears into his friends eyes by his playing.  He then said to them "That was nothing!".
In his debut concert in Germany he would ask several of his friend to spread in the audience and observe the public reaction to his playing to give him an account of it later.

[donjuan]

The Beethoven sonata played by Claudio Arrau (great pianist of the XXth century video) is the Op. 111 last movmt.

YES!!! that's it.  I found a recording of Pollini doing it, and I didnt feel the same way.-too mechanical and controlled.  When Arrau does it, I can feel the tears coming on.
donjuan

[JK]

These pieces don't generally move me to tears all the time but I do get that feeling of being some how "outside of this world" and in a different place emotionally, it's like the world kind of closes in and all I can really be aware of is the music! (if that doesn't sound stupid and makes some sort of sense!)

Brahms symphonies,
Debussy images, preludes, la mer and nocturnes,
Beethoven symphonies (3,5,6,7,9 in particular), concertos 4/2 and 5/2,
Sibelius symphonies 1,2,5,6,
Thaikovsky symphonies,
loads of others that would take ages to list.........!

I agree about the Arrau, it is superb and probably the best interpretation that you'll hear of that piece, I bought the DVD of him playing the whole piece, as well as Schumann concerto and carnaval and Soloman playing the appassionata, unfortunately it wont play on my computer!

[Terry-Piano]

Hello.. i jus want to know what rach 1rach2 or rach3 is i keep hearing about them but i dont know rachmaninovv well enough ... tell me so i can find the music thx

[Saturn]

Hello.. i jus want to know what rach 1rach2 or rach3 is i keep hearing about them but i dont know rachmaninovv well enough ... tell me so i can find the music thx

"Rach 3" is a shortcut for "Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3"

- Saturn

[Spatula]

I somehow felt touched, but didn't cry in Brahms PC No 1.  The theme transposed to the minor key sounds so meltingly warm  

[eugene_oneg]

Anyone Brahms first violin and piano sonata ?

It does not put me in tears but leaves me astonished and haunted by the incomparable beauty of some passages in the first movmt.

If you like Brahms you have to listen to this.

[liszmaninopin]

I only think I've ever shed a tear once while listening to music; it was the second movement of Prokofiev's Sonata #7.  To me, that movement is incredibly profound, and sadly powerful.

However, as for music that has deeply moved me, and that I could have cried to, that would apply to several Scriabin etudes and preludes, alot of Rachmaninoff, the Berg Sonata, some passages of Violette's Seventh Sonata, Godowsky's Passacaglia, the Chopin Scherzi, a Sorabji transcendental etude (unfortunately, I forget which one, but it was very deep when I heard it performed), Prokofiev's Eighth sonata, some of the Liszt consolations, Ravel's Le Gibet, some Medtner.  Actually, some of the vocals, and simple whistles and drums that accompany native american music can be powerfully melancholy.  I wish they could be reproduced on a piano.  To me, the most deeply moving pieces have a sort of stark, detached sound.  They give a feeling of desolation rather than intimate sadness.

[donjuan]

I agree with the Liszt Consolations.  I love consolation No.2 played by Horowitz.  It is even better than Horowitz's No.3
donjuan

[Antnee]

Some Schubert melodies are very touching...

Like his theme in his Opus 142 Bb inmpromptu (which was used in a few of his compositions).
Another beautiful melody is that of his Winterreise cycle.
The first song is very haunting but beautiful.

Also chopin's feuneral march from his sonata gives me the creeps sometimes, but he middle section moves me to tears...  

-Tony-

[eugene_oneg]

I meant the first sonata Op. 38 for CELLO and piano
(not violin and piano) from Brahms.

Sorry.

[pianiststrongbad]

I have to admit that Rachmaninov's second concerto is full of meloncholy.  Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony (Pathetique) I believe tops this as far as sadness goes.

[littlechopin]

Scriabin etude op 42 n°5
scriabin etude op 2 n°1
scriabin piano concert (1st and 3d movement)
Rach etude op 39 n°5
scriabin nocturne for left hand
Tchaicovskij violin concert (1st movement)

and many others  :,(

[leyton]

The piece that holds the most emotion for me is Gorecki's 3d Symphony...  When the vocalist reaches the climax of her song in the first movement, the orchestra enters with this soaring melody, except that it's really eight or so melodies atop one another.  It is truly beautiful, and I rarely listen to the piece because it is so emotional for me.  (And also because the first movement is a half hour long.)

Also, there is much to be said for the second movement of Grieg's piano concerto.

[Mello]

I also get all teary-eyed when I hear Chopin's funeral march.

It just seems to sum up losing a loved one.

[pseudopianist]

I also get all teary-eyed when I hear Chopin's funeral march.

It just seems to sum up losing a loved one.

I couldn't agree more on that!

Bachs Air always a tear to eye. It reminds me of my childhood.

Also Chopins Raindrop Prelude really moves me.

Nocturne in B flat minor, E flat and C minor (op48)  and number 20 are pieces that also move me deep inside.

[TonyG]

Adagio - Rach. no 2 in E minor.
"Dusk" - Armstrong Gibbs (personal recollections associated with).
The late great Bill Evans playing "Here's That Rainy Day".
Judy Garland singing "Over The Rainbow".
Coates' "Dambusters March".
Any slow nightclubbish version of "I'll Be Seeing You".
"Somewhere" from West Side Story.
"Who Wants To Live Forever" - Freddie Mercury and Queen.
"Romeo and Juliet" - Peter Tchaikovsky.


Or when I personally play:
"Legend" - Robert Docker.
"Meditation" - Massanet.
(my dinner jazz version of) - "When You Wish Upon A Star" - "Alice In Wonderland".

It's all down to your memory, how long you've lived and tasted this old world!

I'd just say to anyone, don't create barriers between different 'types' of music. You young piano players are SPECIAL people, and you will be for the rest of your lives. Just listen, listen, listen - there's a whole world of fabulous music out there . . .

[sagenwc]

Have you guys heard Elgar's Cello Concerto?  The first movement will move anyone to tears.  The theme from his Enigma Variations is pretty emotional too (maybe that's why the Matrix used that theme).  Rachmaninoff is my favorite by far, however.  Another lesser known piece is Villa-Lobo's first piano concerto.  The theme is hauntingly beautiful.

[DarkWind]

I think I almost cried listening to Les Preludes by Liszt...

[mozartgonebad]

rachmaninoff's elegie moves me to tears...  
also the rach 2...
middle section of schubert's klavierstucke no. 1

[dlu]

I don't think I've ever actually shed actual tears while listening to music...well...becauase of it at least. But the 1st Movement cadenza of the Rach3 comes close and strangely enough the Contrapunctus I from Bach's the Art of the Fugue does as well.

[abe]

I, too, never cry while listening to music, but occasionally I find myself immersed in the music (usually while I'm playing it), and I get a goose bumb feeling, its wierd. Here are a few examples of peices that do this to me when having played them on the piano or in the orhcestra:

Chopin:
Bercuese in Db
some of his Nocturnes, Particularly the Op. 55 ones

Mendelssohn:
Hebrides Overture (such a good orchestral work, even for people who don't really like mendelssohn in general)

Brahms:
Various intermezzi
Rhapsody in Gm

[shasta]

Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor
Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture (agreeing with Abe)
Bach's Bist Du Bei Mir
Mozart's "Sull'aria" from Figaro
Pergolesi's Stabat Mater (Quando Corpus Morietur)
Chopin's E minor concerto, 2nd movement
Leslie's Cape Breton Lullaby
Rach 2 and his Rhapsody

[DarkWind]

I, too, never cry while listening to music, but occasionally I find myself immersed in the music (usually while I'm playing it), and I get a goose bumb feeling, its wierd. Here are a few examples of peices that do this to me when having played them on the piano or in the orhcestra:

Yes, I have that same exact feeling! Like a tingly sensation, because it is so beautiful! La Valse, Rach 2, and Les Preludes all do that to me, plus a few others.

[ChiarinaWieck]

Medner a minor sonata (expecially the refrain)
Beethoven Late sonatas
Schubert Late sonata in A and his last one in Bb have some of the most heartrenching material I believe.         ( they were written when he knew he was dying)
Of course -- Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, even some Prokofiev!

In the first movement of the Schumann Fantasie there is an eight or so measure phrase which I understand is supposed to represent Clara. It is an unbelievably short musical idea, but every time I think of the Fantasie I think of this phrase
As far as pianists go I believe Emil Giles could make me cry playing Mozart's sonata in C.

[BajoranD]

Well, this isn't a piano work, but I got to sing the Brahms Requiem with a full chorus and orchestra, and about halfway through the second movement, it all kind of overwhelmed me (and by "it" I mean the music, and the words, and the experience, and everything!) and I was definitely choked up, and only avoided breaking completely down by sheer force of will. Because then there would have been mascara everywhere, and my nose would have started snotting all over everything, and it just would not have been pretty.   But it was an incredible experience. Whenever I listen to a recording of the Requiem, the second movement STILL gets me.

[Motrax]

Besides what's been mentioned, Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 19 is a wonderful piece of music. I don't like the 4th movement quite as much as the first three, but it is a fairly neglected piece, and should get listened to more often. The piano accompaniment is also fairly difficult - it's closer to a concerto than a Sonata to be quite honest.

[JK]

Besides what's been mentioned, Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 19 is a wonderful piece of music. I don't like the 4th movement quite as much as the first three, but it is a fairly neglected piece, and should get listened to more often. The piano accompaniment is also fairly difficult - it's closer to a concerto than a Sonata to be quite honest.

I quite agree. it's Rachmaninoff at his most......well Rachmaninoff, I suppose!! Does anyone realise that he also wrote a string quartet?! (unfinished though I think..)

[lisztian]

Everyone is forgetting La Divina Comedia Symphony by Franz Liszt. By far one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written along with Faures Requiem.

[larse]

-I don't think I cried during our performance of Faurè's Requiem. However, I believe it to be one of the most touching moments I have ever participated in.
- Of course, the second movement of Rach2 is pherhaps cryable.
- I once cried during a performance of some of the Norwegian composer Knut Nystedt's Motets, amongst them 'Peace I leave With You'.
- The more famous norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg, has composed a set of psalms which used to make me cry. Now I rather get a nostalgic set of goosebumps. Also, if played well, the Notturno from Lyric Pieces Op. 54 can make a man cry.
- Another Norwegian noone has heard of, Ludvig Irgens-Jensen's 'Heimferd' has a movement which continously gives me bumps all over.
- I also had an awakening with Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms' second movement where the choir enters. And from his ballet, Apollo, The first movement, and of course, Pulcinella. First and Second movement. Lovely!
- Another Norwegian(sorry about that...It's just fantastic music. You should probably check it out), Geirr Tveitt, has a piano concerto, I think it's no 1, which never tire me. It's so beautiful I could cry.
- What else...Of course! The first movement from Alfred Schnittke's Requiem made me cry. It was a tough period, though.. Maby cheating.
- The Gymnopedies of Eric Satie..
- Pergolesi's Stabat Mater
- Mozart's Requiem (Of Course!)
- Some pieces by Arvo Pärt
- Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot used to make me cry when I was Little
- Also, Faurè's Pavane is a great brying-piece
- A set of Chopin's Nocturnes could at least turn me down
- I was so lucky to participate in a performans of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The second Movement has a part for boy soprano which is repeated in the girls choir.
- I don't know where to stop. I've figured there is so much beautiful music out there. Not only classical music. Certain tunes within Pop/Rock or Jazz inspires to crying just as much as classical music. I just hope that I'll get to experience as much as possible. That I won't miss something important...

[larse]

-I thought I'd continue with some very important missed ones. Bartòk's 3rd Piano Concerto and parts of his Orchestra Concerto.
- Of all the atonal works out there...I think Alban Berg's Violin Concerto could make me sad
- A Cappella music is quite so wonderful, I think. My former teacher, composer and pianist/organist Wolfgang Plagges work 'Liknarbraut' Is great. In a lovely way. Also certain works of Poulenc (Une Soir de Neige, Figure Humaine) move me.
- But to be frankly honest. If I should have a prize for the most beautiful work ever written. Then I would sit down for a while and think. Then I would propose the Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Mathaeum. In English called Bach's St Matthew Passion (I think). Movements like 'Erbarme Dich' really makes you physically cry. You should also try to play the Prelude in Ebm from book 1 of WTC. Some people also brag about the Brandenburger Concertos, but I don't think too much of them. ut look into some of his cantatas. And Mass in Hm, Christmas Oriatio, St John Passion, Some of his Partitas, The GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, etc, etc
- And the Recitative and Aria at the ending of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell
-I don't have the energy to write more..It'll make me cry sooner or later. So a good night to all of you.

[eugene_oneg]

What would you say about these ?

Ravel,    Pavane pour une infante defunte
Ravel,    oiseaux tristes, (sad birds)
Poulenc Soirees de Nazelles, (evening at Nazelle)
             the piece titled "le coeur sur la main"  
             which translates best into
             "to wear one's heart in one's sleeves"
Prokofiev Sonata 6 second movmt. (saddest ever piece)
Schumann Intermezzo from      
                Faschinggeschwank aus Wien (so romantic)

These are moving but probably not the points of tears.

For tears, JS Bach comes first. I think it is because the music actually never dwelves into sadness it usually has that resignation to accept pain but you can feel some unyielding faith and beauty and that is what moves me, beauty and strength amidst pain and darkness.

Grieg's Lyric Suite.

[Tsegamla]

Never really cried, but I've been so amazed at the beauty of a piece that I'm not sure how to react and almost shed a tear in awe.  The Waltz Op. 18 No. 1 by Chopin did this to me the first time I heard it (especially the end, it was like everything just coming together so perfectly, I couldn't believe it).  So did the Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2.  The Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor gives me chills now because of the story behind it (never saw the Pianist, but my guitar teacher recommended it and I read the background).  Waltz Op. 69 No. 2 really hit me hard the first time I heard it, too, it has a very incredible vibe.  Of his Etudes, I like Op. 10 No. 4 the best.  When I first heard that, it made me feel like I was in the middle of a wild storm.  At one point it feels like the noise grows to a monstrous thunder, then vanishes suddenly so that you just hear the rain coming down, then it builds back up.  I was so amazed at how vividly I got that scenario out of that piece.

Paganini's 24th Caprice was probably the first piece that really gave me chills.

[eugene_oneg]

Tsegamla

The Waltz op. 18 n1 and the ballade n4 from Chopin are the two compositions he himself prefered (according to his students). This Waltz simple in appearance is incredingly well crafted in every small detail. It is the mark of a genius. Could you answer the following questions ? Do you remember the pianist that you heard for the etude op 10 n4 ? and what "background story" are you talking about concerning the nocturne N20. are you talking about the film "the pianist" or a real life story involving Chopin ?
 

[Tsegamla]

Tsegamla

The Waltz op. 18 n1 and the ballade n4 from Chopin are the two compositions he himself prefered (according to his students). This Waltz simple in appearance is incredingly well crafted in every small detail. It is the mark of a genius.
 

I'm not surprised.  It's amazing.  I'm a little surprised that Chopin didn't like Etude Op. 10 No. 5, though (Black Key).

Do you remember the pianist that you heard for the etude op 10 n4 ?

I have an *.mp3 that says it's by Vladimir Horowitz, but I don't know how accurate that it is, since it was downloaded on KaZaA (they often mislabel stuff).  I'm not familiar with a lot of composers or concert pianists or antyhing, but isn't Horowitz supposed to be pretty old now?  It might not be him.  Could be an old recording though.  The *.mp3 is titled "Chopin - Etude Op. 10, No. 4 In C Sharp Minor - horowitz.mp3."  It's 1.81 MB and I'd be happy to send it to you over AOL Instant Messenger or email it (if that'll work, I've never had much luck with attachments bigger than pictures though).  I don't expect everyone to get out of it what I did, but it really just gave me that vibe (at the 0:50 mark, I can't help but think rain).

and what "background story" are you talking about concerning the nocturne N20. are you talking about the film "the pianist" or a real life story involving Chopin ?

The film "The Pianist."  I like WWII, took a WWII class, sat in on a Holocaust class, watch the History Channel a lot, etc.  Assuming you haven't seen it...

"I played Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor. The glassy, tinkling sound of the untuned strings rang through the empty flat and the stairway, floated through the ruins of the villa on the other side of the street and returned as a muted, melancholy echo. When I had finished, the silence seemed even gloomier and more eerie than before. A cat mewed in the street somewhere. I heard a shot down below outside the building - a harsh, loud German noise."

- Wladyslaw Szpilman, The Pianist

"September 1, 1939, and when enemy bombardment forced the closing of Polish State Radio, Szpilman's performance of Chopin's C sharp minor Nocturne was the last live music broadcast."

Basically, the sadness of the piece coupled with image of what it's ushering in was and is really powerful to me.

EDIT:  Even before I knew the story behind it, I thought that Nocturne was the saddest one, so I was really amazed at the eerieness of the Szpilman event.

[DarkWind]

 I'm not familiar with a lot of composers or concert pianists or antyhing, but isn't Horowitz supposed to be pretty old now?.

Horowitz is dead, has been for 15 years, which makes this website: https://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/horowitz_vladimir/ , particularly comic and eerie.

Join Vladimir Horowitz's mailing list to stay up-to-date on all the latest news, tour info, contest announcements, and more!

The ones that need an update are them.

[eugene_oneg]

Tsegamla,

No, I was just curious because I have heard lots of average recordings of that etude but I am sure Horrowitz could do justice to it.
I have not seen the movie "The pianist"  so your answer was very helpfull, thanks. I personnally like to think of compositions in terms of their composer and their time so the large use of Chopin's music in that film is not something I praise, unless the movie itself had been about Chopin. That's my opinion, I know most people would disagree.
I feel the same way about nocturne 20 as you. It has intimate saddness and pure honnesty.  

[larse]

The reason for the drastic use of Chopin music in that film was because of, naturally, the fact that Szpielman was Polish. As Chopin is the most known composer of Poland (Except for more "modern" music such as Penderecki), has a great (and large) set of literature for piano and Szpielman played piano, it's quite so natural to focus on him. The music, though it has become quite international, is reflecting the nation Poland and it's inhabitants. Which is good, because the movie itself is (partly) about, or focuses on, Poland.

The movie shows on Szpilman as a Chopin-expert:
"..Noone plays Chopin like you.."..(a quote from the film).

With this in mind, the severe use of Chopin is, if not praisable, at least entitled. It would feel unnatural or weird if i.e. Liszt or Mendelsohn would pop up in the movie. I think.

[eugene_oneg]

Certainly, I agree it was an excellent choice to choose some of Chopin's music in that film for the good reasons you mentioned. There is nothing wrong either with Spilzmann being presented as a great Chopin interpreter (altough the fact that it is not even his playing that we hear in the film is quite revolting in itself and the necessity of matching image to sound is hardly an acceptable excuse) but this films relies to much on Chopin's music without giving tribute where tribute is due and by that I mean Chopin not  "the pianist". I regret that Chopin's music is tied to that film in such an exclusive way. Imagine for example that an american tobbaco company or car manufacturer decided to use Frank Sinatra (an american famous singer) in all TV commercials and let's assume they become very succeffull as a result of it. Can they do it ? Sure they can. Is it right ? Well, They couldn't care less as long as it worked for them. This is how I feel about this film to a lesser extend.  

Also I don't think that the "best known" polish music had to be the logical choice for a film that reflects partly on the history of Poland. There are other Polish composers of piano music who could have well supplemented Chopin's music:

How about Scharwenka's Polish National Dances ?
Szymanowski's Preludes ?
Moszkowski's etudes ?
What about Henryk Wieniawski,  Eugeniusz Pankiewicz, Brzezinski, Ludomir Rozycki, Lucian Kamienski, Witold Lutoslawski, Henryk Gorecki, Romuald Twardowski, Marian Borkowski, Maria Olszewska ?

[JK]

There are other Polish composers of piano music who could have well supplemented Chopin's music:

How about Scharwenka's Polish National Dances ?
Szymanowski's Preludes ?
Moszkowski's etudes ?  
What about Henryk Wieniawski,  Eugeniusz Pankiewicz, Brzezinski, Ludomir Rozycki, Lucian Kamienski, Witold Lutoslawski, Henryk Gorecki, Romuald Twardowski, Marian Borkowski, Maria Olszewska ?

Because Chopin is very well known, that's the point of it, whether it be a good reason or not to use it. In my opinion it works well in the context of the film, it is effective and suits the mood very well. You have to bear in mind the sort of audience that this film was aimed at, it wasn't just for people who know and like classical music but also for people who don't, therefore maybe they thought that Chopin was the best one to go with as people tend to warm very quickly to Chopins' extremly poetic music, not saying that the others' mentioned didn't write beautiful music, but just a possible reason.

[adidaschica]

chopin and beethoven

[larse]

There are other Polish composers of piano music who could have well supplemented Chopin's music:  
 
How about Scharwenka's Polish National Dances ?  
Szymanowski's Preludes ?  
Moszkowski's etudes ?  
What about Henryk Wieniawski,  Eugeniusz Pankiewicz, Brzezinski, Ludomir Rozycki, Lucian Kamienski, Witold Lutoslawski, Henryk Gorecki, Romuald Twardowski, Marian Borkowski, Maria Olszewska ?  

One must consider this 'film music' as it is used for film. Not that there's no other Polish composer. After the second World War, in th 50-60s, Poland had a striking new wave of successful composers, most known are Penderecki, Gorecki, Wienawski, Lutoslawski, and so on. Cultural geniouses seemed to pop out of every corner. Maby because of the oppression during World War 2, however that's not the discussion. As these composers were aquainted to their time, they didn't bother to compose romantic pieces. Their music is more...modern, which means that most people would't like it, especially not on a film (unless it's a horror movie ).

As for Xaver and Phillip Scharwenka. They're not actually Polish as Posen, at their time, was a Part of the Preussian Empire which became Germany soon after. Pluss the fact that they moved to Berlin in their youth. I'm not aquainted to his Polish National Dances, though. I cannot judge wether they'd fit in the movie or not.

I don't really know why, however Chopins music fits so extremely well in this title. Of course, they have made a quite so handsome selection. The Nocturne in C#, the Ballad in Gm and the Grande Polonaise all plays their own key role in the story. Whereas the music fits very well.

Also, I really cannot see why you'd ever critisize the music of the movie. Because it's so perfect it almost seems it was created for the motion picture. It's also said, however, that Szpilman himself mostly enjoyed Chopin as something to 'fall back on in difficult times'. I don't know if it's true, though.

And last, Chopin is, without doubt, the most know composer of Poland, and the only one famous enough to be recognized by the general public. Which makes him uniqe, and a number one choice for connecting music with Poland at all. With a general public.

[Nana_Ama]

Rachamninoff

Works for One Piano 6 hands
Concerto no. 2 I believe the second movement

Brahms
Raspody in G minor Op. 79 no.2