# Need recs on classical music with a good melody **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003 "2003-03-09T01:14:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/1 "2003-03-09T01:14:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/2 "2003-03-09T01:27:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Merseybeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Merseybeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merseybeat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/3 "2003-03-09T01:57:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/4 "2003-03-09T02:54:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/5 "2003-03-09T03:35:39Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/6 "2003-03-09T03:54:52Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/7 "2003-03-09T04:02:31Z")
Ravel’s _Bolero_ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/8 "2003-03-10T02:17:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rowrrbazzle \* > Bach: violin concerto in D major. Make that E major. ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/9 "2003-03-10T08:01:29Z")
Grieg’s PEER GYNT SUITES #1 and #2. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/10 "2003-03-10T10:30:51Z")
Bach, “Sleepers Awake.” I’m partial to Liona Boyd’s version on **Baroque Favorites** ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-recs-on-classical-music-with-a-good-melody/160003/11 "2003-03-10T12:36:06Z")
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