It would be interesting to hear forum members' thoughts on what they have found to be the most memorable melody they have come across from an unsung composer. For me, it has to be the march from Raff's Lenore Symphony. After hearing just one performance of that symphony on the BBC back in 1949, I kept that tune in my head for 40 years until I was able to come across a secondhand LP of the work in a record shop in York in 1989.
I wonder if that is some sort of record. :)
I don't know if it's a record, but for the last 35 years or so, my favorite "unsung" tune (although it's by a composer with one big blockbuster hit) has been the third movement, Scène de Nuit, from Gustav Holst's Suite de Ballet in E Flat, Op. 10. It's a gorgeous, long-limbed melody sung by a solo violin and accompanied by string orchestra; there's nothing else quite like it in Holst's output and, as with all unsung works, I have no idee why this wonderfully scored four-movement suite isn't a concert staple.
The second theme from Bortkiewicz's Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 16 First movement... I believe its played out on the flute with piano accompaniment, then strings. I just love this tune!
I concur with the Bortkiewicz PC 1. I have never forgotten a note since my first hearing.
Thal
For me there are too many to name. But a lot them would be by Raff, that's for sure.
For me it would have to be (among others) the main theme of the second movement (Grave) of the Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 7 by Robert Hermann. Sublime, moving, profound - it gets me every time.
The first that comes to mind with be Peterson-Berger's Romance for Violin and Orchestra. It has a wonderful soaring theme that really gets stuck in my head.
Quote from: Balapoel on Monday 08 July 2013, 03:54
For me it would have to be (among others) the main theme of the second movement (Grave) of the Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 7.
By...?
oops. Robert Hermann.
Thanks. Lovely stuff, I agree.
Well, that Raff march is a tune which you just have to mention and I can call it to mind, even though it is years since I last heard it. The same is not true for the Bortkiewicz for me; and I last heard it much more recently.
This is a bit of a tough one for me. I'm taking it as an exercise: if I could pick only one melody to suggest to a skeptical someone in the hopes of getting them to say "wow, I have to admit, that's incredible", what would it be?
Considering my virtual worship of Raff, obviously things like the main theme from the first movement of his Symphony #9 spring to mind, but actually I keep coming to the Arpeggione Nocturne in A minor by Friedrich (no, not Norbert) Burgmüller. As far as I know, this is incredibly obscure, but a tune of the highest beauty and memorability. If you haven't heard this before, I feel safe in assuring that you would feel well-rewarded even if you expended considerable effort to seek it out.
And I know I'll definitely be doing some seeking of my own to find the ones people are mentioning on here!
Moscheles. Oh yes, that has to be his Piano Concerto No. 3 Op. 58, in particular the opening. After so many years this overwhelming tune can still drive me to tears. What an utterly gorgeous, most thrilling and deeply-felt opening. And the 'old' Ponti is the winner of the two performances I have.
Quote from: Peter1953 on Monday 08 July 2013, 17:13
Moscheles. Oh yes, that has to be his Piano Concerto No. 3 Op. 58, in particular the opening. After so many years this overwhelming tune can still drive me to tears. What an utterly gorgeous, most thrilling and deeply-felt opening. And the 'old' Ponti is the winner of the two performances I have.
That's a shame, because the Ponti performance uses an edition (probably by Reinecke) that hacks much of the opening tutti out.
I like Moscheles PC3, but it doesn't figure on my list of all time great unsung tunes. And I too would rather have the whole thing...
Quote from: JimL on Monday 08 July 2013, 20:16
That's a shame, because the Ponti performance uses an edition (probably by Reinecke) that hacks much of the opening tutti out.
I am aware of that but the shorter opening makes the concerto – to my ears – more effective and besides, I like Ponti's powerful introduction.
The 'main' tune from Kalinnikov's Symphony No. 1, first movement.
No.23 from Thalberg's "Les soirees de Pausilippe". Next to 17 & 18 it is the piece that has stayed foremost in my mind (though the entire collection is masterful)... and there are some lovely harmonic things going on near the end of the piece...
Melody is the absolute bedrock of music for me, which is one of the reasons I love Raff's music so much. Many of my favourites are by Raff, as you'd expect. Off the top of my head: the main theme of the slow movement of the Piano Trio No.1, the fabulous horn melodies in both the Festival Overture and the fourth movement of the cantata Die Sterne, the barcarole-like melody in the second movement of the Suite for Piano & Orchestra, both the main themes of the Piano Concerto's slow movement, the song Lorelei, etc., etc. A couple of non-Raff examples: the melody on which Dohnanyi bases the opening of the first movement his early F major Symphony is instantly memorable, the duet "Tu la dit" from Act IV of Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots always sends shivers down my spine... the list goes on and on.
1. Dukas, Symphony in C, second movement, second subject.
2. Hadley, The Trees So High, 3rd movement, trio.
3. Lajtha, Symphony no. 4, 2nd movement, central section (though the whole movement, in fact the whole symphony is gorgeous).
4. Chadwick, Symphonic Sketches, Jubilee, second subject (the most beautiful melody ever written by an American composer? Could be.)
5. If Suk is unsung then the main theme of the Fantastic Scherzo.
How could I have omitted Atterberg? Second Symphony, second movement, adagio theme heard after Kalinnikov-like introduction. Breathtakingly, jaw-droppingly beautiful.
There are many works that I could choose from. Like others, I could also nominate the march from Raff's Lenore symphony, Kalinnikov's symphony no 1 first movement or Atterberg (but symphony no 8, 2nd movement adagio) but I would also like to nominate Braga Santos's 4th symphony 4th movement (both first and second subjects).
Of course I'm very gratified at the huge response to my initial message and I shall definitely have to investigate a lot of those melodies presented, but how many forum members can put their hand on their heart and say that they remembered a particular tune from an unsung composer for many years after just one hearing? That, I would argue, has to be the true test of a supremely memorable melody. I would say its relatively easy to "learn" a good tune after more than one hearing. :)
Draeseke Cello Sonata 1st movement (opening): one of the great "unendliche Melodien" of 19th century chamber music.
Just about every theme from Raff's Lenore is memorable, but I'd have to put the second subject of the first movement up there with the March. Also every tune in the Piano Concerto. The opening of Hummel's B minor Piano Concerto never left me from the first time I heard it. And, also, of all things, the second themes in the final movements of both Herz' Concertos Nos. 1 and 3.
Quote from: John H White on Tuesday 09 July 2013, 14:51
.... but how many forum members can put their hand on their heart and say that they remembered a particular tune from an unsung composer for many years after just one hearing? .....
I repeat my choice "Bortkiewicz's Piano Concerto No. 1" I remember each and ever note of the 1st movement! :D
I would like to add 2 more:
1. The theme from Rhapsody on Ukranian Themes by Lyapunov stays with me!
2. Paul Graener - Die Flöte von Sanssouci [suite for flute and chamber orchestra], Op. 88, Movement 1 - Introduktion und Sarabande: At the very beginning, there is a hushed introspective string opening over which the flute plays a melody that will haunt me to my dying days. I don't know if anyone else finds this beautiful...but it takes me to another world!!!
The very beginning of Boughton's 3rd Symphony really grabbed my attention when I first heard it and has stayed with me since then.
Hrm. The recording is unavailable but you're reminding me that high (highest? not sure...) on my list would be the opening of Boughton's _2nd_ symphony "Deirdre". :) More elusive theme, but it's stuck with me...
Some things in Medtner - the "Hymn" in the finale of his piano quintet e.g. ... too...
The second subject from the Arensky violin concerto only needs to be heard once. It will stay with you ever after.
Quote from: John H White on Tuesday 09 July 2013, 14:51
Of course I'm very gratified at the huge response to my initial message and I shall definitely have to investigate a lot of those melodies presented, but how many forum members can put their hand on their heart and say that they remembered a particular tune from an unsung composer for many years after just one hearing? That, I would argue, has to be the true test of a supremely memorable melody. I would say its relatively easy to "learn" a good tune after more than one hearing. :)
I think the test is "many years after", rather than "just one hearing", since it is not often that you hear a piece only once, if you like it. Just "tunes you like" is not really John's question. The big tune from Kalinnikov's Symphony No. 1 is certainly one that I can hum to order despite not having heard it for years, but there are a lot of memorable tunes that stay with me for a few weeks after any listening and then drift off. Usually I think I know, for instance, the big tune from Fibich's Piano Trio, but I admit that I can exactly recall it right now. On the other hand I can conjure out of memory the slow movement of Pixis's Concerto for Violin and Piano. If I worked hard I might be able to recall the big tune from Howard Hanson's 2nd Symphony also.
One problem is remembering the tune but not remembering what it is - there is one tune that many times has popped into my head leaving me thinking "what IS that?". Now I am used to it and have worked out the identity of the repeat offender - Arensky's Egyptian Nights ballet.
I would choose:
Glazunov Scenes de Ballet, n.1 (the tune after a short introduction)
Fibich Symphony n.1, main theme of the scherzo
Oh, one other suggestion if I may, though I guess this one is only semi-unsung... opening of second subject, first movement of Berwald's Sinfonie capricieuse.
(Though ... hrm. It's our good fortune; quite a few lesser-known works combine rather memorable themes, and strong structures, too.)
For me, one of the tunes I remember best even after a long time is the second theme from Rheinberger's overture to Die Sieben Raben (at around 3:12 in the Athinaos recording) - a hauntingly beautiful melody. Another would be the main theme from the last movement of Peter Benoit's piano concerto (the 'Fantastic Hunt').
Speaking of Berwald, the entire Symphonie Singulière is chock-full of memorable tunes, although only the themes of the first movement and second theme of the Adagio are tunes I could say stuck with me years after only one hearing.
Certainly in the sung category, but gets me every time;
Dvorak - Piano Trio No. 4 'Dumky', movement 3 Andante. I don't know if anyone saw the comparison, but it sounds similar to the main theme from the film 'Unforgiven', but no credit was given... (and somewhat similar with Meyer's Cavatina from the Deer Hunter).
More unsungs:
Myaskovsky - Cello Sonata No. 2 in a minor, 1st movement, 1st theme. Hauntingly beautiful, it hit me the very first time I've heard it - one of the best openings of any cello sonata, in my opinion. Captures pathos, beauty, wistfulness, and power all at once.
Bargiel - Violin Sonata in f minor, op 10 - first theme of first movement - simple, powerful, unmistakable, and stays with you.
Lyapunov - Symphony No. 1 in b minor, op 12 - 2nd movement, first theme.
Reinecke - Wind Octet in Bb, op. 216 - 1st movement, second subject (or development of first subject, depending on how you look at it), appears about 1:23 minutes in. Very playful, and interesting development, with a neat harmonic turn midway through - neat development about 2:12.
Dohnanyi - his youthful Piano Quartet in f minor, 1st movement, 1st theme - amazing treatment by a 14-year old.
edit: true enough on the Bargiel.
Nitpicking- I thought the Bargiel was a violin sonata :)... (but I'd be the last to argue against the notion that Myaskovsky had some really good tunes in him- and that the opening of Op.81 was one of them. And in its way, the first cello sonata, too; I wish the violin sonata Op.70 were too, but- not so much.)
Two tunes that keep swirling round my head for the last forty years: Goetz 1st Movement from the Symphony & Siegfried Wagner Violin Concerto 1st Movement.
If I may mention Suk as well... I would add the main theme from 'Pohadka', in the first movement of the fairy-tale suite. This melody, sung by the violin is most sublime and has stayed in my head instantly and now for many years. To me this should be played in concerts alongside the famous 'Moldova' from 'Ma Vlast' by Smetana. To me it totally holds up the latter, hands down.
Apologies (probably hypocritical) for interjecting time and again, but mention of Suk makes me think of the recurring B major "slow movement" (the third(?) section) theme from his one-movement 2nd string quartet (B-C#-D#-B... A#-C#-B-D#-C#-E-D#...F#...)
-- another of those lovely tunes that has lodged in my mind (and which - a small number of - other themes remind me of, besides, for good or ill...) Inspired composer, in my honest opinion.
Great subject, John. Thought about this a bit. I have nothing original to offer, but wish to second the nomination of Draeseke's cello sonata I:subsidiary theme and would add to that the similarly lyrical and effusive first theme of Thuille's Sextet, op. 6.
The second subject from the first movement of Sinding's Third Violin Concerto...and how it returns in the finale.
How do I get to hear Draeseke's Cello Sonata that some of you are raving about without having to fork out about $40 for a used copy of the AP disc?
Try Records International:
http://www.recordsinternational.com/cd.php?cd=02O089 (http://www.recordsinternational.com/cd.php?cd=02O089)
Audio excerpts here (Cello Sonata = tracks 1 to 3):
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Felix-Draeseke-1835-1913-Werke-f%FCr-Cello-Klavier/hnum/1618903 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Felix-Draeseke-1835-1913-Werke-f%FCr-Cello-Klavier/hnum/1618903)
For me, the greatest cello sonata in the entire repertoire. (Ducks!)
There are so many good ones to choose from, but one that definitely stands out to me is the theme from the epilogue of Joly Braga Santos' 4th symphony.
I just thought of one more.... Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, 1st Movement 2nd theme. lovely melody and the way this theme is treated just before the close of the movement.
I love the opening melody of Myaskovsky's 5th -- light, lyrical, utterly charming.
Quote from: FBerwald on Sunday 21 July 2013, 20:09
I just thought of one more.... Saint-Saens - Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, 1st Movement 2nd theme. lovely melody and the way this theme is treated just before the close of the movement.
Well if you consider his #4 also unsung, I'd say the big theme in the last movement (it's kinda a single movement in two parts, like in the Organ Symphony, so it really starts in the middle) is one of the most memorable themes ever written. But I'm not so sure it's quite unsung enough...
But something that IS pretty unsung by a not unsung composer would be the 'Concerto-Rondo' by Jacques Offenbach (with apologies to the confusion on just what said piece actually is). The main theme is a very jaunty and catchy tune.
Quote from: TerraEpon on Monday 22 July 2013, 06:52
Well if you consider his #4 also unsung, I'd say the big theme in the last movement (it's kinda a single movement in two parts....
The 4th is definitely unsung [This represents Saint-Saens best!!!!] I know the tune you are talking about. The one in 3/4 time, right? I love this. Bortkiewicz's Piano Concertos No. 2 in C minor [to my knowledge it is a 2 movement concerto]. The 2nd movement Allegro vivo, has a very catchy 3/4 tune written in the same vein.
That theme in Saint-Saëns' 4th Piano Concerto of which you speak is a transformation of the chorale theme from the 2nd (or 2nd half of the 1st) movement (which recurs in the brief Andante bridge between the "scherzo" and the "finale" in the 2nd part.
One more nomination (ouch), but by someone even more unsung than Berwald, etc.- the opening to the slow movement of Antonio Scontrino's string quartet in G minor (composed December 1899, premiered 1901, recorded on a rare 1960 LP?? (2017 edit, sorries)). Lovely hymnic thing, that... (if I'm remembering right. May be thinking of the wrong thing in the movement; I'd nominate the whole movement if I could, of course, but I'm like that. Unfortunately. Eh. Hush now :D )
Quote from: FBerwald on Monday 22 July 2013, 08:58
The 4th is definitely unsung [This represents Saint-Saens best!!!!] I know the tune you are talking about. The one in 3/4 time, right? I love this. Bortkiewicz's Piano Concertos No. 2 in C minor [to my knowledge it is a 2 movement concerto]. The 2nd movement Allegro vivo, has a very catchy 3/4 tune written in the same vein.
Time it was in the days of my youth, when the 2nd and 4th PCs of Saint-Saëns were the
only piano concertos of his in the repertoire. Now everybody plays the
Egyptian!
I think I hear those three fairly often on the radio. (Though some online radio searching doesn't show much near-future or recent-past performance of Saint-Saëns piano concertos- the finale of the first soon, the 2nd concerto on Sveriges Radio P2 (rebroadcast from BBC) back in May, etc.) If anything, have been hearing his chamber music more often- not complaining about -that-... I'd like to wake up to a classical station (if there were one sufficiently nearby, if I still had a radio not on my computer- classical TV is pretty good, though)- and "accidentally" happen on the middle of one of his chamber works; or Enescu's octet... (I woke up one morning, turned on WCNY, and almost jumped (happily, but from surprise) when I heard Draeseke's lovely viola alta sonata in F major greeting me from my radio speakers. It's no coincidence that WCNY is a Syracuse radio station; Alan Krueck had dropped off a copy of the disc when visiting his old home town, and they played it...) (And if the opening of -that- work hasn't been nominated for one of the most memorable unsung tunes, I've nominated too many (and am admittedly regretting that), but it should be...) - though in this it's in competition with, as noted, several of his others. (Usually the opening themes moreso than the secondary themes; as Dr. Krueck mentioned in an essay I think, reversing a fairly common though not universal practice, Draeseke usually went from lyrical opening theme to a more rhythmic, martial (or at least marked! :) ) secondary group (or at least introduction to secondary theme group) rather than the other way 'bout...) in these duo works.
Quote from: Alkanator on Sunday 21 July 2013, 19:40
There are so many good ones to choose from, but one that definitely stands out to me is the theme from the epilogue of Joly Braga Santos' 4th symphony.
outstanding selection!!
My greatest tune by unsungs is the second movement of Symphony no2 of Ludolf Nielsen
Quote from: JollyRoger on Friday 26 July 2013, 03:13
Quote from: Alkanator on Sunday 21 July 2013, 19:40
There are so many good ones to choose from, but one that definitely stands out to me is the theme from the epilogue of Joly Braga Santos' 4th symphony.
outstanding selection!!
First one that sprang to mind for me, too.
Allow me to put forth another Raff example: The 3rd movement (Gavotte and Minuet) of the Suite for Piano and Orchestra.
Quote from: Amphissa on Sunday 21 July 2013, 23:14
I love the opening melody of Myaskovsky's 5th -- light, lyrical, utterly charming.
One of my favorites also!
Tom
Sir Malcolm Arnold - Scottish Dances Op.59, No.3.
A lush melody which is marked "allegretto," but to my ears always is played moderato.
Anyway to me it's memorable and also unsung.
In definite concordance with those who mentioned the chorale theme of the finale of Braga Santos 4-a terribly moving moment IMHO.
I also find myself humming the swaggering "big tune" in the finale of Rott's Symphony a lot.
Along the general lines of Elgar's Nimrod, the main tune in Bax's 1916 tone poem In Memoriam is my idea of about as memorable as a tune can get.
I recall reading an Alan Dean Foster novel in which the main character was listening to something by Braga Santos. But then, Foster is (was?) like that.