An open and entirely subjective question: What is the most beautiful melody in Western music? You can decide yourself what are the definitions and criteria of "beautiful" in terms of melody (I'm not terribly interested in a philosophical debate). I might at first suggest:
Ravel: The Valley of the Bells (esp. as orchestrated by Grainger)
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto #4, Second Movement
Varèse: Density 21.5. ;D (At least, that's what comes to mind at the moment. ;) )
The opening of Parsifal, or the so-called motif of the Sacrament :)
Why the question? How can there be a single "most beautiful melody"?
I can understand that a lot of the 'definition' of beauty has context. It puzzles me, this underlying idea that one melody, in all the rich world of music, "could be" the most beautiful.
The question is a personal one, as my answers will be different than others, but the most beautiful melodies FOR ME are:
Mozart's Clarinet Concerto - mvt 2
Mozart's Marriage of Figaro - Finale to Act IV
Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata - mvt 2
Beethoven's Archduke Trio - mvt 3
Beethoven's SQ 13 - Cavatina
Mendelssohn's VC - mvt 2
Dvorak's Cello Concerto - mvt 2
Dvorak's Piano Quintet - mvt 1
Dvorak's 8th Symphony - mvt 2
Dvorak's 9th Symphony - mvt 2
Rachmaninov 2nd PC - mvt 2 and 3
Holst's Planets - slow part of Jupiter
Copland's Tender Land - The Promise of Living
Quote from: karlhenning on August 14, 2007, 04:56:42 PM
Why the question? How can there be a single "most beautiful melody"?
I can understand that a lot of the 'definition' of beauty has context. It puzzles me, this underlying idea that one melody, in all the rich world of music, "could be" the most beautiful.
The question can obviously be rephrased in a number of less romantic, hyperbolic, and/or extreme ways; the mere phraseology of the question was not intended to provoke ideological argument, and I didn't really mean to emphasize the notion of "singularity." If the question came off that way, it's because I carelessly phrased it; I was more interested to learn which melodies, in certain people's minds, transcend conventional notions of beauty, or at least the kinds of beauties normally expressible through language. If the notion of the "most beautiful" seems horribly conservative--and indeed it is--I'd settle for any melody that has great personal significance, above and beyond everyday prettiness or attractiveness.
Andrew
Quote from: jurajjak on August 14, 2007, 03:31:55 PM
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto #4, Second Movement
YES! I adore that.
Some of my most cherished choices:
The 2nd movement of the Shostakovich 2nd Piano Concerto.
The slow movement of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.
The conclusion of the Bach St Matthew Passion.
The solo violin melody from Glass's Einstein on the Beach.
The opening of Mahler 9!
The main theme and "Juliet's Death" from Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet.
The Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orphée et Eurydice by Gluck.
The distant, exotic melody from the 1st movement of Debussy's Violin Sonata.
The slow movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 14 (someone fill in the K number please!).
The quiet opening and then the 'suddenly lively' tune from Copland's Appalachian Spring. Adorable.
Opening and slow movement from the Barber Violin Concerto.
The first movement of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet!!
Slow movement of Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 7.
The 3rd movement bassoon & oboe duet melody from Haydn's No. 63 "La Roxelane".
The 2nd movement soprano melody of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.
...and finally...
The conclusion of Pettersson's 6th Symphony.
Quote from: hornteacher on August 14, 2007, 05:20:44 PM
The question is a personal one, as my answers will be different than others, but the most beautiful melodies FOR ME are:
................
Dvorak's Piano Quintet - mvt 1
......................
The very first thing that came to my mind. :)
8)
Quote from: karlhenning on August 14, 2007, 04:56:42 PM
Why the question? How can there be a single "most beautiful melody"?
I can understand that a lot of the 'definition' of beauty has context. It puzzles me, this underlying idea that one melody, in all the rich world of music, "could be" the most beautiful.
Karl ........ Do you realize how much easier it would have been to simply identify a melody ......... It's not that difficult, really ........ You just name a melody and be done with it .........
As for me, I believe that "beauty" has both a linear appeal (Mozart, Schubert, etc.) as well as an architectural, functional, motivic appeal (LvB, Brahms, Bruckner) ........ After all, some of the most "beautiful" architecture is that which spans great spaces and reaches lofty heights, and is not limited to a mere linear design that begins and ends divorced from an overarching architectural grandeur ..........
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on August 14, 2007, 06:04:37 PM
The very first thing that came to my mind. :)
8)
I disagree. :D
Quote from: D Minor on August 14, 2007, 06:18:33 PM
I disagree. :D
You think something else was the first thing that came to his mind?
Quote from: Larry Rinkel on August 14, 2007, 06:21:39 PM
You think something else was the first thing that came to his mind?
Yes! :D
Mozart pc 21-2
Braga Santos Symphony 2 2nd mvt
Mozart's A major sonata, K331
Silly question! This place is running out of ideas. Maybe it should be changed into a philosophy forum! ;D
Quote from: jurajjak on August 14, 2007, 03:31:55 PM
An open and entirely subjective question: What is the most beautiful melody in Western music?
the aria from the goldberg variations?
Well, if we're going for a melody, as in theme, I'd say the opening string theme of Bruckner's 7th Symphony, hands down. 8)
If by "melody" you mean something more consistent and of a longer duration, I might as well be cliché and nominate that extended theme from the fourth movement of Beethoven's 9th, as well as the opening movement of Brahms' 4th, the second movement of Beethoven's 7th, and probably the entire 4th and 6th Symphonies by Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky. ;D
Also the main theme from the opening movement of Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto, the opening theme of Sibelius' Violin Concerto, and the distinct and prominent violin theme from the opening movement of Beethoven's Violin Concerto, as well.
Finally - and even though this is likely more of a "personal" thing - I'd like to make an additional "honourable mention" of the third movement (Scherzo) from Mahler's 5th Symphony. :D
Quote from: max on August 14, 2007, 09:52:44 PM
Silly question! This place is running out of ideas. Maybe it should be changed into a philosophy forum! ;D
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
that tune by anonymous is truly the most beautiful.
dj
Quote from: david johnson on August 15, 2007, 12:44:09 AM
that tune by anonymous is truly the most beautiful.
dj
YES! And the one with the "Canon"! ;D
Q
Quote from: Que on August 15, 2007, 12:41:01 AM
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! ;D
Quote from: Renfield on August 15, 2007, 01:56:40 AM
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! ;D
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. 8)
Q
Dunno, but it was written by Mozart, I'm sure.
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?
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.
Quote from: Valentino on August 15, 2007, 04:29:34 AM
Dunno, but it was written by Mozart, I'm sure.
Or Schubert, perhaps ..........
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on August 14, 2007, 06:04:37 PM
The very first thing that came to my mind. :)
8)
Interesting, that was the first one I thought of too. Dvorak was on my playlist a lot that day.
Too many to count. Generally, any slow movements from WAM's piano ctos, clarinet cto, gran partita.
Quote from: Que on August 15, 2007, 12:41:01 AM
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 $:)
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
Perhaps the most beautiful melody is the LAST MELODY I will ever hear and I have no idea which one THAT will be. ???
BEETHOVEN: The opening thema of the Arieta from the piano Sonata opus 111
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
Quote from: quintett op.57 on August 15, 2007, 06:07:17 AM
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.
Quote from: M forever on August 16, 2007, 02:17:51 AM
That's obviously a trick question: Ein Heldenleben doesn't have individual movements.
Thanks for the creative insight, capt'n obvious.
Quote from: M forever on August 16, 2007, 02:17:51 AM
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.
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1X7V65Sfpo
Quote from: jurajjak on August 16, 2007, 01:09:15 AM
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.