[Trombone-l] Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (NWS)

[Keith Marr]

> I'm not picking a side here, just asking a question.  Should those
> sorts of logistical considerations outweigh artistic considerations in
> the composer's mind as the piece is orchestrated?
> 
> Jeff
>
>
In an ideal world artistic considerations would always take priority but the man that foots the bill for the concert will have a say in the matter and when times are hard it can mean not getting your pieces performed. I wouldn't be surprised if it means popular pieces get missed off community orchestra programmes too, especially in countries where players of a certain instrument are hard to find. We find there are many orchestras over here in UK where players play in several bands to cover the shortage.

There is another issue here too, that of compositional discipline. I know I had to write the cor anglais out of a piece a year or so back as they wouldn't pay the fee for a guy to play a dozen bars. In the end I wrote the 2nd oboe out and put it all onto the cor anglais instead. It made it a little high in places but far from impossible. In the end the piece was better for it. I think the point someone made about Dvorak's wanting to broaden out the narrow bore trombone sound by adding the tuba for a few bars could be a valid reason for omitting the tuba. I doubt anyone other than the tuba player would notice these days (no offense tubby guys!).

As for Das Lied, well I played mandolin in the 8th Symphony once so I know where Mahler's coming from - obviously had no budget constraints!

Good exchange of ideas.

Cheers!

Keith in Bb/F/D

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