Aaron Copland – Appalachian Spring – This work uses a familiar Shaker folk melody, known as both Simple Gifts and Lord of the Dance, as the primary melodic material for this populist work of Americana. Copland, who often reused familiar American melodies, was known for his talents as a melodic composer who wrote generally accessible works that found reception with musicians and listeners alike. This work is a great way for students to follow an easily distinguishable melody and see how that melody is changed, departs, returns, and is fragmented into motives. Since the melody is a primary driver of this work it is easy to hear and follow, making it a great introductory work.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade – A symphonic suite with a loose narrative focus around the character of Scheherazade from 1,001 Arabian Nights, this work has multiple melodic components that allow the orchestra to act as narrator. The solo violin, however, with its twisting sinuous melody occasionally emerges to begin or end a tale, and this melody is interspersed with horns and woodwinds, which carry significant melodic weight. As a result of all this melodic heft, this work is a great way to both listen for melodies and timbres as each instrumental family chimes in with its narrative element