History Main / PlayingTheHeartStrings

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* This trope pops up every now and then in the ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' soundtrack: such as the intro to [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/chorale-for-jaspers-2 "Chorale For Jaspers"]] (the opening of which has been quoted in many other songs) and an Asian-themed variation in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1r294qQrk&feature=related "Even in Death"]].

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* In the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7c0U9t9oc This]] is the music that plays during the opening CurbStompBattle / HeroicSacrifice.

* In 2009 ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' film, Watson gets one of these when [[spoiler:caught in an explosion]].

* The Granada adaptation of the SherlockHolmes adventure "The Final Problem" has a sorrowful violin piece accompanying Holmes and Moriarty's plunge into Reichenbach Falls. That said, this whole series made good use of violins in the opening theme and the rest of the soundtrack, since Holmes plays the violin himself.

Compare with OneWomanWail, which is often used in the same way. See also LonelyPianoPiece. See MoodMotif.

[[folder: Web Originals ]]

* Played to good effect near the conclusion of ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' season 10 when [[spoiler:York and Carolina are forced to fight one another as The Mother Of Invention crashes into the planet below.]]
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[[AC:Anime]]
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' had a specific string-only piece for particularly tragic scenes, usually involving ManlyTears.

[[AC:Films -- Animated]]

[[AC:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Music]]

[[AC:{{Theatre}}]]
* "Åse's Death" from ''Theatre/PeerGynt''. Peer continues talking when muted strings play this piece quietly during his mother's death scene, ironically oblivious in her dying moments as he tells her a wild tale.

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

[[AC:Web Comics]]
* This trope pops up every now and then in the ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' soundtrack: such as the intro to [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/chorale-for-jaspers-2 "Chorale For Jaspers"]] (the opening of which has been quoted in many other songs) and an Asian-themed variation in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1r294qQrk&feature=related "Even in Death"]].

[[AC:Web Originals]]

** As the Doctor is [[spoiler: forced into [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens the Pandorica]]]], only the [[SoundtrackDissonance triumphant strings]] can be heard.

* ''Film/{{Platoon}}''. Sgt. Elias' death scene used Samuel Barber's ''Adagio for Strings''. See it on [=YouTube=], [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue8VS-bcj88 starting at 2:00]].

* "Hero of the Past" from ''VideoGame/BionicCommando 2009'' is a [[DarkReprise sad strings arrangement]] of the Area 5 theme from the NES game and its remake.

** "Rue and Woe" of ''2''[='s=] "High Charity Suite", reused for Miranda's death in ''Halo 3'', is a prime example, as is the solemn strings in Respite.

** Rue and Woe of the High Charity Suite, reused for Miranda's death in ''Halo 3'', is a prime example, as is the solemn strings in Respite.
** Dust & Echoes / Wake Me When you Need Me.
** The second part of "Ashes" from ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' uses it alongside {{lonely piano|Piece}}.

* Final episode of ''MaisonIkkoku'' had the original opening song play in the background in a string version.

* "True" and "Theme of Laura Reprise" from ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' use both this and TheLonelyPiano.

* Shows up several times in TheLastOfUs, most notably during [[spoiler: the sequence after Joel has grabbed Ellie and is trying to escape the hospital. The particular piece of score used is found in the last minute and a half of All Gone (No Escape)]].

* ''VideoGame/MayPayne 2: The Fall of Max Payne'' and ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'' both feature [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZfaSNoZ6L0 a melancholy strings arrangement]] of the first game's main theme.

* ''VideoGame/MayPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne'' and ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'' both feature [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZfaSNoZ6L0 a melancholy strings arrangement]] of the first game's main theme.

* Played to good effect near the conclusion of [[RedVsBlue Red Vs. Blue]] season 10 when [[spoiler:York and Carolina are forced to fight one another as The Mother Of Invention crashes into the planet below.]]

* "Åse's Death" from ''Theatre/PeerGynt''.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' uses this to truly [[TearJerker heart-rending effect]] after Moses has confronted [[AntiVillain Pharaoh Rameses]] who's son has just died in the tenth plague of Egypt.

* In the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'', [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7c0U9t9oc This]] is the music that plays during the opening CurbStompBattle / HeroicSacrifice. Oh, yeah.

* The ten-minute finale of Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of ''Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans'' plays this trope for all it is worth, as seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9SEFMIBwAs here]]. [[TearJerker Bring a box of tissues.]]
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZXjdKKa3jw "The End"]] from ''Film/{{United 93}}'' is pretty much this trope in it's pure, distilled, form.
* Used several times in Casualties of War. This is the best example [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wf-RDgRz4]] . Starts around the halfway mark. Have some tissues handy.
* Creator/DannyElfman's score for ''Film/TheWolfman2010'' definitely makes very good use of the strings. Probably as a subtle ShoutOut to the original score.