Can someone recommend some “classic” classical pieces with a strong melody (along the lines of Ode to Joy, Pachelbel’s Canon, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik). Thanks.
Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, opus 26. First performed in 1921. Is that classic enough?
The second movement has a theme that is so beautiful you will plotz.
I’d recommend anyone trying to get into classical music to try Beethoven’s Sixth “Pastoral”. Glorious melodies and an experience not to be forgotten!
I like Herbert Von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic’s recording, but there are many others.
In general, listen to any pops/favorites collection. Obviously, if they’re favorites, they probably have good melodies.
You mentioned Beethoven’s 9th. Try some other vocal music: favorite opera arias, for example.
Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances.
Brahms’s Hungarian Dances.
Chopin piano preludes, nocturnes, etudes.
Borodin’s music. Most of the musical “Kismet” was based on themes from his string quartet and his “Polovtsian Dances”, IIRC.
Bach: violin concerto in D major. Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F major. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.
Lots of others.
Petzold - Minuet in G
Smetana - Die Moldau
Dvorak - New World - complete symphony
Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata mvmt III
Delibes - Lakme - flower duet
Bizet - Carmen - Habanera - L’amour est un oiseau rebelle
Puccini - Turandot - Nessum Dorma
…that’s all, Folks!! …for now
Offenbach-many selections from Gaite Parisienne
Vivaldi-The Four Seasons
Gershwin-Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris
Copeland-Hoedown
JS Bach-Fugue in D minor, Fugue No. 2 in C minor
Handel-Water music & Royal Fireworks
and many more
Ravel’s Bolero
Make that E major.
Grieg’s PEER GYNT SUITES #1 and #2.
Bach, “Sleepers Awake.” I’m partial to Liona Boyd’s version on Baroque Favorites
A few not mentioned yet (I think):
Mozart - piano concertos 20 and 21, clarinet concerto
Bach JC - Toccata & fugue BWV565
Rimsky-Korsakov - Sheherazade
Sibelius - Finlandia
Ravel - Pavane pour une infante defunte
Mendelssohn - Italian symphony, violin concerto