Gifted Melodists

[greg]

In any genre of music, who are some of the best at writing simple melodies? By this, I mean when the music is pretty much just melody + accompaniment- or, I could even say, "catchy tunes." 

I can think of 4, the first 3 which have been firmly established in my mind for several years now:

1. Prokofiev
2. Nobuo Uematsu
3. Joe Satriani
4. Atterberg

[mc ukrneal]

In any genre of music, who are some of the best at writing simple melodies? By this, I mean when the music is pretty much just melody + accompaniment- or, I could even say, "catchy tunes." 

I can think of 4, the first 3 which have been firmly established in my mind for several years now:

1. Prokofiev
2. Nobuo Uematsu
3. Joe Satriani
4. Atterberg

Interesting. None of those would come to mind immediately as melodists (is that really a word?), even though Prokofiev is a favorite composer of mine. I tend to think of Rimsky-Korsakov or Tchaikovsky. I wonder if part of this is who we listen to more often or who we are introduced to at an earlier age.  But then, you can probably claim this for any great composer, after all, most if them wrote a great many pieces with catchy tunes.

[abidoful]

Well, let's see;

- Schubert definately
- Mozart also
- Tchaikovsky

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

From the 20th century, I think Prokofiev and Martinu stand out the most. Not only were both of them fruitful melodists, but their melodies have an individual stamp that make them instantly recognizable.

[Grazioso]

The major classical composers that spring to mind most immediately in this context are Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. Though I wouldn't say of any of them "the music is pretty much just melody + accompaniment"

[Christo]

Another ten:

Tchaikovsky
Dvořák
Mussorgsky
Holst
Ravel
Prokofiev
Kodály
Rodrigo
Bernstein
Barber
Malcolm Arnold - the most prolific composer in this respect, I'd say

[greg]

The major classical composers that spring to mind most immediately in this context are Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. Though I wouldn't say of any of them "the music is pretty much just melody + accompaniment"

Yeah, I didn't put Mahler on my list because his music tends to be too contrapuntal-ish for what I'm thinking of.

[Teresa]

For me the most melodic Classical music is influenced by Folk music of any country and to a lesser degree Jazz.

All of Grofe's Suites are very melodic, the prime example is the catchy tune "On the Trail" from the "Grand Canyon Suite"

I also find the music of Copland and Virgil Thomson to use very catchy tunes, and I love their music.  Also Gershwin's Jazzy rhythms are very infectious and melodic.

Rossini's William Tell Overture is very melodic (as are all of his overtures) but this one in particular as I grew up with it as the Lone Ranger Theme.

Also I can never get the image of the Puffed Rice commercial of my childhood out of my head when listening to the 1812 Overture.  The Rice shot from cannons.

In addition most of the 20th century composers premiered and conducted by Howard Hanson on Mercury Living Presence are very melodic to me.   

A few more examples of melodically infectious music not already mentioned from my collection:

Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Bizet's Carmen Suite
Brahms Hungarian Dances for Orchestra
everything by Chabrier, not just España
Chihara's The Tempest Ballet
Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony
most everything by Debussy
Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice
almost everything by Dvořák
almost everything by Morton Gould
Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite
almost everything by Holst
Ibert's Escales "Ports of Call"
Ippolitov-ivanov's Caucasian Sketches
Kabalevsky's The Comedians
Khachaturian's Gayne Ballet
Kodály's Háry János Suite
almost everything by Liszt
Massenet: Le Cid Ballet Music
everything by Johan de Meij
Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture
everything by Mussorgsky
Nielsen's Aladdin Suite
everything by Offenbach
Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijé Suite
everything by Rachmaninov
everything by Ravel
everything by Respighi
everything by Rimsky-Korsakov
nearly everything by Saint-Saëns
Movie and Jazz inspired music by Shostakovich
the Tone Poems of Sibelius
nearly everything by Tchaikovsky

Many other examples of very melodic classical music, these are just my shinning examples and I probably missed a few of my favorites, I always do.

[greg]

that's quite a list...

[jowcol]

that's quite a list...

Agreed. 

I've given a little though to this--  I fully agree about Mussorgsky-- I really adore him, but formal musical structure was never his strong suit. 

It's interesting to see Ravel make some mention-- a lot of his melodies are really long.  Some of the more famous melodists relied more on a memorable hook.   I'd have to rank Vivaldi high on that.  While he would not develop a melodic line as richly as Bach, he definitely would come up with a memorable hook.

Hanson would be pretty high on my list.  Also, I'd have to put E. J. Moeran, if only because of his one truly great symphony. 

This warrants more thought...

[Opus106]

I'm surprised to see no mention of Chopin so far.

[Guido]

For me, the two great melodists are Tchaikovsky and Dvorak.


Barber I agree is a fantastic melodist, one of the greatest 20th century ones, but his range is more limited than these two (not a criticism - he's my favourite composer! (with Ives and Finzi))


Bach also can, when he wants to, write the most affecting melodies imaginable. Erbarme Dich. Need I say more.


I'm surprised by your original list Greg.

[Guido]

Mozart in his operas is also almost peerless, and how could I forget Gershwin? His melodic legacy is truly extraordinary.

[Brian]

I like Guido's list quite a bit. Dvorak reigns supreme on mine - this is a guy who dropped little gems of melodies into his piano miniatures, and who famously wrote a second subject for the first movement of his violin concerto that was so beautiful, so lyrical, that ... they only play it once. He was a show-off, almost. "Hey, look what melody I can come up with ... and then never use again!"

And amen to Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Gershwin. Grieg was an astute collector of melodies, though I don't know if he could be credited with writing great ones because he just used folk tunes.

I sympathize with Greg's inclusion of Atterberg, but can't agree with it totally. The Violin Concerto's got a dazzler in the first movement, then runs pretty dry for the rest. The Eighth Symphony is bursting with great tunes, though, especially the finale, and the symphonic poem which closes the Third is one of those breathtaking series of melodies set free that captures the imagination and steals my breath away.

Nobody else is going to dare say this, so allow me: Johann Strauss Jr. was a phenomenally gifted tunesmith. Maybe one of the very, very best.

[The Six]

Gabriel Fauré, of course.

[Ten thumbs]

I once proposed Fanny Hensel as the most melodic composer, with some justification. However, she rarely wrote a melody against a simple accompaniment. Mostly she sets her melodies against secondary melodies. Also, her melodic lines are extended, developed and varied, so that note for note repetitions are rare (except in strophic songs). She seems therefore disqualified in this instance.
One composer who seems to fit the bill is Kuhlau. If you ever learned his sonatinas at the piano, they are with you for ever!

[greg]

I think Tchaikovsky is a perfect choice for this thread.

[Christo]

Nobody else is going to dare say this, so allow me: Johann Strauss Jr. was a phenomenally gifted tunesmith. Maybe one of the very, very best.

     

[Teresa]

Nobody else is going to dare say this, so allow me: Johann Strauss Jr. was a phenomenally gifted tunesmith. Maybe one of the very, very best.

I agree totally, so I will dare to third this!

Malcolm Arnold - the most prolific composer in this respect, I'd say

Agreed Malcom Arnold has many of infectious melodies in his music.  Your other composers were on my list, not sure how I missed Arnold,  But excellent choice.

Well I did say I likely missed some of my favorites.

[jhar26]

Tchaikovsky
Mozart
J. Strauss
Verdi
Puccini
Bellini
Rossini
Schubert
Dvorak
Delibes