Cato's Grammar Grumble

Started by Cato, February 08, 2009, 05:00:18 PM

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Cato

Quote from: Florestan on Today at 09:17:42 AMIn a review of Jarvi's recording of Suppe's overtures Rob Barnett writes:

He had a knack for a good tune and was no slouch with catchy melodies either

Now, my question is: what is the difference between a good tune and a catchy melody?


Quote from: ritter on Today at 09:26:55 AMWell, a good tune not necessarily is catchy, and a catchy melody is not necessarily good. My two cents worth, YMMV, and all that...

Good evening to you, Andrei.


An example might be the "Baby Shark" jingle, which tortured most of the planet a few years ago.

An example of a great melody, but given its contrapuntal/harmonic aspects, one would probably not consider it "catchy," is the opening of Grieg's Ballade for Piano:





But could one still call it a tune?   8)



Quote from: Florestan on Today at 09:35:03 AMWell, one might as well argue that a catchy tune is not necessarily good and a good melody is not necessarily catchy.  ;D

Actually, it all boils down to what is the difference between a tune and a melody? AFAIK, they are synonymous.


That could be: there are all kinds of debates on the Internet about this.  Some say that they are synonyms...except "melody" can refer to more complex things e.g. the opening to Bruckner's Symphony #7.

Or not!  ;D
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

DavidW

Quote from: Cato on July 04, 2025, 07:28:42 AM"Yeah, you need to enter your soash!???    :P

I hate how, instead of elaborating with "social security number", she assumes she is dealing with an idiot and starts talking down to her. ::) If you ever wonder why so many of these administrative assistants provide a rote speech of "I will need a copy of your insurance, form of identification, including social security..." no matter what, this story is why!

Mandryka

Here's a catchy melody which is not a good tune


 
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

Florestan

Quote from: Mandryka on Today at 11:17:30 AMHere's a catchy melody which is not a good tune



Great! Now give us a catchy tune which is not a good melody.  :laugh:
"Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha,
ist die Sache, hahaha,
drum verzeihn Sie, hahaha,
wenn ich lache, hahaha! "

Mandryka

Quote from: Florestan on Today at 11:29:11 AMGreat! Now give us a catchy tune which is not a good melody.  :laugh:

Well here's a good melody which is not  catchy tune

 
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

Karl Henning

Grumbling at ads circulating on the internet/one's phone is like shooting sunnies in a barrel. Especially as the source may be non-native anglophones (or downstream AI.) Still, I barely suppressed laughter at "No Ad."
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot