The true masters of melody? Who are they?

[Richard Lorentz Johansen]

Who are the true masters of melody? I don't care if it's Hip Hop beat makers, country writers, a punk band or gregorian chants. Who can really make a melody that gives the soul what it needs (in your opinion, ofcourse) ?

[Gavin Brown]

I'm mostly a piano composer and so I love other piano composers particularly. I never heard a better composer for piano than Fredric Chopin. His melodies are gorgeous in a way any person can appreciate. Memorable, lovely. In the modern era, the Beatles seem to me to be the only comparable sound.

[Christopher Mracna]

I would think ................... John Williams. Almost every one of his film scores is memorable.

[Greg Brus]

Anyone can come up with a good tune. Since the main quality of a memorable melody is its relative simplicity, even the most awful composer will eventually stumble upon one if he tries hard enough. Obviously, people who know the science behind the magic have it a bit easier, but there's not much craft involved either way. There's of course the question of what a masterful melody actually is. I, for one, believe that the line from John Mackey's "Xerxes" is mindblowingly awesome. Someone else will consider it terrible. Oh well.

[Adrian Allan]

The point john makes is just as relevant now as it was then.

[Gavin Brown]

It might make an interesting contest to take these melodies Jon has posted and ask the membership to harmonize them.

Jon Corelis said:

Judging by nothing but my own experience, almost all the melodies (I'm talking here about "naked" melodies, ignoring what a composer does with them) which I consider most beautiful, evocative, and compelling are traditional folk melodies, especially Celtic ones.  As I have some relevant sound files around, I append for examples three (very simple short melodic statements) I particularly like:  the first is a very obscure Scottish song "Ceol-brutha", the second the fairly well known Irish "My Love's an Arbutus," and the third the often recorded Breton melody "Maro Pontkalek" (sometimes also known as "Marv Pontkalleg.")

[Gavin Brown]

The discussion over whether to compose in an original modern style or to copy what has come and gone seems to be a central theme on this site. I've seen it discussed many times in many different threads. As a person who seeks to compose new works, I have never quite understood those who wish to compose in the styles of the past. To me it seems that the very essence of serious classical composition is to strive for the new. You don't see authors writing in the style of Henry James. You don't see movie makers doing black and white silent films. I get that composers who work in past styles do so because they think that there was an era of beautiful music which is worth sustaining. The argument doesn't work for me, but to each his or her own.

[Gavin Brown]

Jon, I think it would make for an interesting competition, and unique. I will post something to the membership before long to see if there is interest. Do you mind if I repost your melodies?

[Vivaldi]

Antonio Vivaldi is the master of melody of course. 

[Johan Roeraade]

I totally disagree!!

Vivaldi said:

Antonio Vivaldi is the master of melody of course. 

[Adrian Allan]

But saul, classical music cannot be judged on melody alone.

The skill of the classical composer is one of development, modulation, orchestation. What some of those you call inferior lack in melody, they make up with the other musical elements.