The most mournful melody?

[ELG60]

I was at a blues jam this Monday past and the harp player/vocalist called out "St. James Infirmary " which ofc., I didn't know. Well, I won't link to the vid because I made a hash of much of it., but I learned it afterwards from the video I posted and told my friend, the guitarist, that if someone ever called out that mournful dirge again, I'd know how to play it.

I also referred to it as "St. Anthony's Mortuary."

Here's an early version by Louis Armstrong:


Along with two more which are in the running; "He Stopped Loving Her Today," by George Jones, and "Wildfire," by Michael Martin Murphy:


And a particularly poignant version played appropriately at his funeral by Alan Jackson:

 

[onosson]

Main melody lines begins about 1:04

 

[SteveCS]

I love this one for it's stunning simplicity. Variations on a simple melody, repeated and modulated. Just strings, loads of suspensions and chromatic movement in all parts. For something so short and easy on the ear, the mix of pedals, chromatics and melody in the cello lines is gut-wrenching, IMHO. Sibelius' Andante Festivo...

 

[zon6c-f]

What tune has the most mournful melody? Here's my submission (meaning the melody in the guitar line, not the voice, though that's up there, too).

Gary Moore:
Still Got the Blues
Parisienne Walkways

 

[bholder]

Still Got the Blues

That is a particularly good one, will have to check out the other, thanks.

 

[bholder]

I was at a blues jam this Monday past and the harp player/vocalist called out "St. James Infirmary " which ofc., I didn't know. Well, I won't link to the vid because I made a hash of much of it., but I learned it afterwards from the video I posted and told my friend, the guitarist, that if someone ever called out that mournful dirge again, I'd know how to play it.

I also referred to it as "St. Anthony's Mortuary."

Here's an early version by Louis Armstrong:

Another favorite. Here's my crappy take:

(Doesn't have to be slow and dirgeful, still plenty sad though.)

 

[GBBSbassist]

This piece comes to mind for good reason.

 

[Fxpmusic]

Scariest lyrics I’ve ever heard.

indeed.

 

[31HZ]

 

[stringthrough]

 

[baileyboy]

There's a real sadness to this song, especially if you lived it:

 

[ELG60]

Another favorite. Here's my crappy take:

(Doesn't have to be slow and dirgeful, still plenty sad though.)

Nicely played!

 

[edencab]

 

[sawzalot]

Not sure but I am certain it is in D minor.

 

[Clark Dark]

 

[saltydude]

If not mentioned already I’ll go with.
Whale and wasp Alice n’ Chains.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

 

[DrayMiles]

I'm just as guilty of attention-seeking as anyone else here, I think, but sometimes I manage to do ok despite myself. I do like occasional "digging for folk's input on a theme" threads like this, partially attention seeking for the KC song, but also I really like the "cross-genre-width" of responses here. Food for thought, anyway. What makes a melody sound mournful? I don't really know, but we've got lots of great examples to study here.

I will say this...

I lost my wife to pancreatic cancer in 2014... I've had an extreme amount of tragedy within the last 5 years, so I enjoy the mournful compositions, but I'm aware that I have to be careful... Lest the emotions drag me into a state in which I wouldn't recover. The examples here are a good way to feel good about feeling bad... IMO...

 

[zon6c-f]

That is a particularly good one, will have to check out the other, thanks.

Adding:
Wicked Game by Chris Isaac
And Atlanta’s Hydra: Feel A Pain( Will Boulware)
Spencer Kirkpatrick’s intro always sends my wife weeping ...

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Oh come on now...