Most Beautiful Melody in Western Music?

[david johnson]

that tune by anonymous is truly the most beautiful.

dj

[Que]

that tune by anonymous is truly the most beautiful.

dj

YES! And the one with the "Canon"!

Q

[Renfield]

Indeed, a ridiculous question even. Classical music has hundreds of immortal melodies and I wouldn't have the slightest clue why I should chose one melody over all others - which is a useless exercise anyway.

Q

Granted, but why not play along? After all, there are melodies one might particularly enjoy, or - as in my case - first come to one's mind, for possible nomination; not to say that any such "prize" can - in my opinion - obviously ever be given.

Still, when viewed as a game, this can be fun enough: for all I know, someone could nominate the opening of Bach's BWV 565 Toccata & Fugue, for instance! Wouldn't that be potentially entertaining and/or interesting?

In other words, I am of the opinion that you are taking this a little bit too seriously for its own sake, if I may be as bold as to make such comment. Though you are more than entitled to do so, of course.

Naturally, "that tune by anonymous" is an exception to my above statement: the winner of the competition beyond doubt!

[Que]

In other words, I am of the opinion that you are taking this a little bit too seriously for its own sake, if I may be as bold as to make such comment. Though you are more than entitled to do so, of course.

You may indeed, and you are even quite right!

I think I've seen too many of these threads already....and they are all the same.
A kind of "the best of"-fatigue slips in when being here around for a while.

But I'm okay now. 

Q

[Valentino]

Dunno, but it was written by Mozart, I'm sure.

[quintett op.57]

a much easier question (for obvious reasons of scale) : Which of the 32 melodies contained in Strauss' 4th mvt of Ein Heldenleben is the best?

[rappy]

Just a few:

- Schumann Piano Quartet slow movement (opening cello theme with its answer in the violin)
- Beethoven clarinet solo in the second movement of his 7th symphony
- Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony main theme of the third movement
- MOZART: slow movement themes of the Clarinet concerto and the piano concertos no. 23, 26, the a minor piano sonata; second theme of the final movement of the 25th piano concerto; theme of the closing section (I think it is, when the oboe imitates the piano) of the first movement of piano concerto no. 23; etc. etc.
- Prokofiev, second theme of the final movement of his first symphony and the themes of the second movement
- Shostakovich, 2nd piano concerto, slow movement theme
- Schubert, Winterreise, Frühlingstraum 3rd (and 6th) stanza theme, Gute Nacht theme, etc.
- Tchaikovksy string serenade, first movement opening theme, final movement second theme

The very important ones are highlighted.

[BachQ]

Dunno, but it was written by Mozart, I'm sure.

Or Schubert, perhaps ..........

[hornteacher]

The very first thing that came to my mind.

Interesting, that was the first one I thought of too.  Dvorak was on my playlist a lot that day.

[rach]

Too many to count.  Generally, any slow movements from WAM's piano ctos, clarinet cto, gran partita. 

[orbital]

Indeed, a ridiculous question even. Classical music has hundreds of immortal melodies and I wouldn't have the slightest clue why I should chose one melody over all others - which is a useless exercise anyway.

Q

Be grateful that 4:33 did not rear its ugly head on this thread 

[bwv 1080]

Wolpe - Piece for Trumpet and Seven Instruments
Messiaen - 2nd movement Concert a Quatre
Takemitsu - In an Autumn Garden
John Zorn / Naked City - Sack of Shit

[max]

Perhaps the most beautiful melody is the LAST MELODY I will ever hear and I have no idea which one THAT will be.

[val]

BEETHOVEN:  The opening thema of the Arieta from the piano Sonata opus 111

[jurajjak]

Thank you for your replies.  For the few people who got hung up on the hyperbolic phraseology of my original question, there was no need to get hung up.  Asking for the "most beautiful melody" is a clearly rhetorical gesture intended to elicit an emotional response--obviously the question is not meant to be taken literally, as if there really were a singly meaningful melody/theme.  And yet, if there is a person for whom one melody is more meaningful above all others, I would not damn that person, but be all the more curious.  


Andrew  

[M forever]

a much easier question (for obvious reasons of scale) : Which of the 32 melodies contained in Strauss' 4th mvt of Ein Heldenleben is the best?

That's obviously a trick question: Ein Heldenleben doesn't have individual movements.

[Bonehelm]

That's obviously a trick question: Ein Heldenleben doesn't have individual movements.

Thanks for the creative insight, capt'n obvious.

[Larry Rinkel]

That's obviously a trick question: Ein Heldenleben doesn't have individual movements.

But he's referring to melodies, not movements. I would say melody #23 is the best.

[Michel]

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1X7V65Sfpo

[karlhenning]

Thank you for your replies.  For the few people who got hung up on the hyperbolic phraseology of my original question, there was no need to get hung up.  Asking for the "most beautiful melody" is a clearly rhetorical gesture intended to elicit an emotional response--obviously the question is not meant to be taken literally, as if there really were a singly meaningful melody/theme.  And yet, if there is a person for whom one melody is more meaningful above all others, I would not damn that person, but be all the more curious.  

Excellent emendation, Andrew.