I'm currently at a section in my "middle ages" project that I promised myself would have to be the best melody I have ever created, so I'm on a hunt for the perfect melody and was looking for some input. I used to think that it was all about the amount of notes. Fewer notes means a quick attraction, but no sustainable pleasure. I'm not all certain that it's so simple. Beethovens 5th acchieved huge recognition for the very simple opening and Tchaikowsky achieved the same with a more complex melody in the 1st pianoconcerto.  Any views ?
 
What are some examples a great melody ?
 
Off the top of my head examples would be:
The opening of Mike Oldfields Ommadawn
Ronald Binge: The elisabethan serenade
Kirsty MacColl: They don't know (verse)

Here's a couple that might give you some inspiration;
 

I feel like a lot of tunes that are now considered jazz standard have absolutely exceptional melodies. Can't think of any off-the-dome, but i'm sure there are some here who can

Turn on some type of recording device (even a phone works) then play whatever you want on a piano (along with random stuff).  Go back and listen to the recording and see if there are any "Ooo... THAT has potential!" parts then flesh a few of those out.  The key is to not think about it during the recording process, just let things flow and completely ignore anything that doesn't sound good! 

craigb
and completely ignore anything that doesn't sound good! 

I'd have no recordings to my name then.

craigb
Turn on some type of recording device (even a phone works) then play whatever you want on a piano (along with random stuff).  Go back and listen to the recording and see if there are any "Ooo... THAT has potential!" parts then flesh a few of those out.  The key is to not think about it during the recording process, just let things flow and completely ignore anything that doesn't sound good! 

... then go back and listen to the whole thing backwards.
 

quantumeffect

craigb
Turn on some type of recording device (even a phone works) then play whatever you want on a piano (along with random stuff).  Go back and listen to the recording and see if there are any "Ooo... THAT has potential!" parts then flesh a few of those out.  The key is to not think about it during the recording process, just let things flow and completely ignore anything that doesn't sound good! 

... then go back and listen to the whole thing backwards.
 

On LSD.

Yep, improvisation is the order of the day here... Play fast... Slow... Everything in between... Something will develop that you like... Do that over a number of days... Choose the best...

Listening to Nimrod... Nice that

(note to self - must curtail the over use of the ellipsis...)

The Lark Ascending is a good one, loads of great melodies in there. In fact Vaughan Williams' stuff is a treasure trove of amazing melodies, some of them taken from English folk music.
 
To me one mark of a good melody is its whistleability. The first melody in "English Folk Song Suite" by Vaughan Williams is a fine example. It has every good hallmark of a great melody and I whistle it all the time. Another great trove of melodies is Holst's "Jupiter" from The Planets. 
 
And you can't discuss melody without mentioning Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition." 
 
I think good melodies have a pleasing element of symmetry in them, and they might also have a linguistic element to them as well.