Song 309 (Benjamin Britten--"War Requiem")

I probably should have waited until a proper holiday or event which this would have fit, however, tomorrow is the 4th of July (Independence Day), so it kind of fits.
This masterpiece of music was written for the reconsecration of the Coventry Cathedral in '62, which was destroyed during bombing in World War II. The entire piece is over one hour long and takes the shape of a Latin Funeral Mass in which he mixed with it nine different poems about war written by Wilfred Owen. This is one of the more emotional pieces of music written and is very powerful. One of the best parts for me is throughout they use odd meters, which actually fits very well; in the traditional Funeral Mass chants of the Dies Irae no meter exists.

Here are a few select parts of the entire piece conducted by Mstilav Rostropovich:

Here is the Aeternam section on YouTube.
Here is the famous Dies Irae section on YouTube.
Here is the Lacrimosa section on YouTube.
Here is the Sanctus section on YouTube.

+