Melody

Let’s listen to some beautiful melodies. By melody, I mean the tune, what you might sing from a great work you know. So many nineteenth century works have gorgeous melodies and we love to hear them. Here are some of my favorites:

Listen to the first 2 minutes or so of Rimsky-Korsakov’s (1844-1908) masterpiece Scheherazade and you’ll hear a couple of melodies played first by the solo violin and then by the whole violin section.

While we’re in Russia, consider Rimsky-Korsakov’s contemporary, Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a master melodist. Listen to the “Swan Theme” from his ballet, Swan Lake to hear it first played on the oboe, then picked up by the French horns and the violins (2:59). His “Waltz of the Flowers” (6:20) from the ballet Nutcracker is a recognized masterpiece the world over. The first theme of his Piano Concerto No. 1, occurring during the first 3 and 1/2 minutes is powerful and stentorian. Or what about his gorgeous theme 1 from the first 2 1/2 minutes of his Violin Concerto?

I also have to mention another Russian melodist of great skill. His melodies often seem to start from practically nothing and then soar to encompass the whole gamut of human emotion. His “Vocalise” (5:20) can be played successfully on a variety of instruments including the human voice, because it is one of the most beautiful and passionate melodies ever written. I’ll conclude this brief article on melody with one more example from Rachmaninoff, his Piano Concerto No. 2, movement 3 (11:33). Wait for it: the second theme, following the piano and orchestra flourishes of Theme 1, is a really beautiful melody, played first in the strings, then taken up and extended by the piano. It appears again near the end to finish the movement in triumph and affirmation.

For a more academic definition of melody, see here.