At 7:53 PM -0700 10/6/06, Eric Dannewitz wrote:
Then go edit Wikipedia. However, I doubt they will take your edit.
You just said "standard additional instrument". It's not a standard
instrument, but an additional instrument. Get it? Ok, really slow
now.....Standard.......ADDITIONAL........instrument.
So, yeah, they will ADD a saxophonist or two if needed, but they are
not part of the core/traditional/standard orchestra.
Hi again, Eric. Yes, of course I understand exactly what you mean,
and you obviously understand exactly what I mean, even filtered
through the sarcasm. But my point is that "the orchestra" is an
evolving concept and that there is no "standard" orchestra that
covers everything from French Baroque opera to Mozart to late
Beethoven to late Wagner to Stravinsky to Copland to John Williams.
The "standard" instrumentation is an administrative convenience, and
as such represents the instrumentation that is used most often.
Haydn and Mahler had somewhat different ideas about what was
"standard." Instruments that aren't used in a particular composition
are left out, and instruments not on the full time payroll are added
as needed. Do the orchestras you cite list a harpist? Probably.
Ah, but do they list TWO harpists? Gotta have 'em for Berlioz.
So I guess I have no trouble with your saying the saxophone is not "a
standard instrument," but I would have to continue to disagree if by
that you actually mean that it is not "an orchestral instrument,"
which is how I read your original statement. It is, in fact, a
military band, concert band, jazz band, marching band, solo, chamber
music, AND orchestral instrument.
John
--
John & Susie Howell
Virginia Tech Department of Music
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
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