långspunna

00:25 May 29, 2012 

[NB not sure how to grade/ make best answer etc as this answer was as a discussion entry, not an answer per se. Let me know if you want to change that -duncan]

00:21 May 29, 2012 

Long-spun seems to appear quite often in exactly this context so I've gone with that, thanks.

15:43 May 28, 2012 

Oh yes, I think this is definitely it. Thank you

15:07 May 28, 2012 

or spun-out
If you do a Google search for expressions such as "long-spun melody", "long-spun melodies", "long-spun phrases", "long-spun theme", "spun-out melodies", etc., you will in fact find lots of quite convincing examples in classical music reviews written in English. Here are just a couple:
The 18-voice ensemble ... is an ideal number not only to convey the full measure of those extended waves of harmonies, but to sustain the long-spun melodic lines that weave through the supporting chordal structure.
http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-16292/
Long spun melodies, deep harmonies, feather-light percussion, sonorous chord-shifts – the sound of the Abdullah Ibrahim Trio in concert: deep, memorable and moving.
http://www.glasgowcityofmusic.com/assets/0000/5693/Piano_FIN...