THE BEST MELODIES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21733, 16 March 1936, Page 18

THE BEST MELODIES

TOTH* ZDITOB OF TH® PEEB9. Sir. —“Untrained’s” request for the 12 best melodies would puzzle the most competent of musicians, because each would have his special favourites. The tests of a good melody, I take it. are as follows:—(a) It must be in a convenient compass—not much more than an octave—so as to be singable. (Beethoven has managed to get one of his best tunes into a five-note compass.) (b) It must bear constant repetition—which practically limits the choice to diatonic nielodies. (c) It must • be fluent and haunting. To soothe, it must proceed by single-note steps judiciously mingled with other intervals, mostly small, as do the -Londonderry Air and He Shall Feed His Flock.” If it is to be a bold melody and strong, it must consist largely of bold leaps, and the rule about ’ always returning within the compass of the leap must not be too closely observed. The more dominants twhlch are sohs to a solfalst) it contains, the more ringing it will® role—see especially the March of the Men of Harlech” and the "Marseillaise" as adapted by Schumann in ms -Two Grenadiers.” , , . My 12 Cl had rather be asked for n hundred) are: »1) ’Trumpet Tune,' ter Purcell (this composer could easily furnish the whole dozen). (2) “He Shall Feed His Flock,” by Handel. (3) “Have Mercy On Me, O Lord, from -Saudi’s “St Matthew Passion,” unsurpassable for pathos. (4) The theme of the slow movement of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto—l share with “Untrained" his great love for this divine tune. (5) “Thou Comest Here to the Land. O Friend,” from a cantata for men’s voices by Mendelssohn —one of the many tunes he wrote to show that he was not always Felix the feminine, (6) The slow movement from Gnegs pianoforte concerto. (7) Elgar’s "Land of Hope and Glory,” which repetition has not staled. Elgar's ability to write tunes of all kinds puts him among the giants. (8) Wagner’s Prize Song. (9) Pony’s -Jerusalem.” (10) Walford Davies’s -Solemn Melody" (or “Mine Sm Have Seen," whichever he likes.) (11l The “Londonderry Air." (12) “Shenandoah,” which is quite as good as Schubert, whom, strangely enough,, 1 have not beenable to include, though Sylvia?” yrmnrppnd to ypUT • CQ|TeS < ' mjMfeHtaro bf ®an»o■■■■■K Ai i -