Most Beautiful Melodies, do you have a favorite?

Thought I'd start a thread where people can contribute what they think are the pieces with the most beautiful melodies. I'll start -

This one was written by Mozart, master of melody and brings tears to my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GalkXM4h5SY...feature=related

or Bach's Air on a G string - don't laugh, its not THAT G-string!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVwokQnV4M

and a favorite of mine since I was little - Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - this being a Celtic radio site, I thought I'd link to the Celtic Woman's version -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFTLwEA21As...FE2227B&index=0

How about Schubert's Ave Maria sung by Andrea Boccelli

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdX5Ht3U9w...feature=related

from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorsky - The Great Gate at Kiev

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlFnahc_OVs...feature=related

So people! Please let us know what your favorite melodies are

Antwn;

I have 4 pieces that I think are the most beautiful:

1. Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini.

2. Rimsky-Korsakoff, Song of India

3. Aria from Madame Butterfly (Instrumental)

4. Merry Widow Waltz.



Camac.

Antwn and Camac,

you both posted some of my favorites already, so now I'll have a go with some that immediately popped into my mind.

Here is another one by Mozart. You might remember it from the movie "Out Of Africa".

Clarinet Concerto II, Adagio



Ever heard of Lars Erik Larsson? Never heard of him either until a good friend recommended him. Beautiful music!



I noticed the thread about classical music in cartoons. Disney did a great job with "Fantasia" in 1940 and continued in 1999 with "Fantasia 2000".
I live close to the Cascades, Mt. St. Helens being only a few hours away. Here is Disney's take on the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. It is absolutely beautiful and worth the 9 minutes of watching and listening!

Igor Stravinsky's "The Firebird"



I love Sibelius, and I posted his Violin Concerto in D minor before. Here is what introduced me to Sibelius's music.




Played at the 911 Memorial service and used in the movie "The English Patient", Gustav Mahler's Addagietto, Symphony No.5



Shostakovich and his Violin Concerto No 1, third movement, will always be a favorite of mine.



Last, but not least, Arvo Pärt's "Mirror In The Mirror".



Enjoy and Slainte!

Thank you mcnberry! Those are beautiful. I too like Arvo Part. I hadn't heard of Larsson either, thanks for the selection! I'll have to check him out. Yes, Mozart can be relied on for beautiful melodies, without question.

Camac, who is the composer for the Merry Widow's Waltz?

What about Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. This is a famous piece from a 20th century composer. Rather sad but beautiful. Sorry I don't know how to post videos from YouTube directly like you have mcnberry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450...feature=related

Yes, Mozart can be relied on for beautiful melodies, without question. How about his operas like Don Giovanni's La ci darem la mano where Don Giovanni is trying to seduce a woman engaged to someone else. Don Giovanni is Italian for Don Juan, the main character in the opera. Its a lovely aria anyway -- if you can find this version its on DVD and is great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x91W2HLe_-k

Also one of Mozart most beautiful and moving melodies ever - a tutti contenti -- from Nozze di Figaro - God there's just nothing like Mozart! He defies description, genius just isn't adequate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2yrDWEoCpc

Antwn;

The Merry Widow Waltz was composed by Franz Lehar. In my opinion it is the most beautiful waltz ever composed. Far surpassing those of Strauss and Family. My second favourite waltz is Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky, ( also used in the Disney film Sleeping Beauty)

Camac

Thanks Camac!

How about O Mio Bambino Caro sung by one of my favourite singers, Kiri Te Kanawa -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRuYQ9KRJms

Antwn;

I am afraid I am not a great lover of opera other than the Aria from Madame Butterfly sung by Maria Calas. I far prefer the Instrumental versions. Same with Ballet, like the music hate the dancing.


Camac.

“Baïlèro (Chant de bergers de Haute-Auvergne)” { Bailero (Shepherd's Song of Auvergne Hills) } from Chants d'Auvergne ("Songs from the Auvergne") by Joseph Canteloube




The best version I've heard of this song and music was done by the great Israeli soprano, Netania Davrath, in 1966

This music is based on the folk music of the Auvergne region of France which is an area with a very Celtic and Gaelic history.

A few of my favorite melodies of all time:

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Pas de Deux from the Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky, which is probably why I play the cello. Who knew you could do so much with a descending scale!

The 2nd movement to Beethoven's 7th symphony, though this version is a little fast for my liking, it was the slowest I could find on youtube that wasn't Liszt's piano transscription, which should also be listened to, because he rocks.

A viola da gamba piece by Marin Marais

Elgar's cello concerto played by Jacqueline du Pre. This piece will always make me cry. Always.
I have a lot of other solo cello music that I adore, but I've already provided a lot of listening

Ainwyn,

Thank you for posting the Youtube links!

I checked out Tallis, wonderful!
Beethoven's 2nd movement has been one of my favorites already. I found this version, maybe a little slower?



Love Elgar, but have never heard of Marin Marias! Very nice indeed!

Since you love the Cello, here is one of my favorites:




Once again Arvo Part. Ignore the silly youtube "There Will Be Blood" picture. It's the only good version I found.

Arvo Part - Fratres For Cello And Piano

A few of my favorites:

Fields of Gold - Mary Black
Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago
Marble Halls - Enya
May It Be - Enya (Really anything by Enya)
Into the West - Annie Lennox
Stay with You - RyanDan
Always - RyanDan
Memories - Within Temptation
Aileen Duinn - Celtic Dreams

Anything by Michael & Jeff Danna
Anything by Celtic Spirit
Anything by Secret Garden
Anything by Loreena McKennit

Honestly, there are wayyyy too many to mention

I don't want Symphony Hall to fade away, so here is another one in the "Most Beautiful Melodies" category.

Yes, I know. Some say this piece of music is "Klischee". A little ditty, not worth mentioning. The great Masters might have scorned it. But yet it is beautiful in it's simplicity and appeals to many. So here I go with one of my favorites.



Rachmaninov was intrigued, and so am I.

Song of India - Rimsky-Korsakov.

Camac.

I'm back and I bring a few more beautiful pieces!

Elgar's Nimrod from the Enigma variations. Hint: the slower the better! I always get antsy when the symphony decides to play it a little fast.

Massenet's Meditation from Thais. Good ol' Itzhak Perlman, though Yo-Yo Ma's version is awesome fantastic.

And because I really needed to bring a cello piece into the mix Bruch's Kol Nidrei, and also part 2. And now I'm making myself want to practice and it's 3 AM. My neighbors would definitely get mad.

"Ode to Joy" (excerpt) from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 by Ludwig Van Beethoven