# Can you name this (poorly sung) melody?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-name-this-poorly-sung-melody/820994>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 8, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-name-this-poorly-sung-melody/820994 "2018-09-08T05:35:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-name-this-poorly-sung-melody/820994/1 "2018-09-08T05:35:49Z")

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Alas, the poor singing is my own. I haven’t thought of this little refrain in twenty years, but suddenly I can’t get it out of my head.

It’s classical, probably a string piece, maybe viola or cello concerto or sonata? I _think_ it is either a Slavic work or in the style of one. Eastern European, perhaps.

Not sure of the original key, but I’m singing it in C minor – [here’s a sample chord](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twvGS01pHfc) to give you an idea of what I’m going for… sorry in advance for my bad pitch.

[And at last: Here’s my mercifully brief rendition. Can you name this tune?](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tEaBlWwV3w3_UgoI9hwcjjFYEctz-zdA)

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**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-name-this-poorly-sung-melody/820994/2 "2018-09-08T05:42:33Z")

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It’s “La cinquantaine” by Gabriel-Marie, a favourite of violinists and cellists and string players in general. And your singing is enjoyable and clear! Thanks, hadn’t thought of this one in quite a while.

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**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2018, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-name-this-poorly-sung-melody/820994/3 "2018-09-08T05:53:28Z")

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Oh my goodness, you’re brilliant! Seven minutes to get the right answer–at nearly 2AM (well, where I am). Thank you, **DavidwithanR**!! I love this place.

I don’t think I’ve heard or thought of this piece in twenty years at least, so I have _no_ idea why it suddenly popped into my head while I was watching a crime documentary, of all things, which didn’t even have music. The brain is a weird thing.

[Heres a nice simple version for anyone who wants to listen.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq0FSVvKCdU)

(And thanks for your kind words about my rusty ol’ voice! 🙂 )