Hello David, isn´t it the same with many orchestra parts, that the horn parts are not distributed equally ? Doesn´t the first take up most of the burden as well ? When I played the Konzertstueck I did not rearrange anything except at age 60, when I delegated just one or two measures before the very high runs, just to get a very short brake to regenerate strength. And the first horns are used this way of taking over the main burden - and it is fun also, while tutti horns are not that ambitious, at least after several years in their positions.
============================================================ ================================== -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David B. Thompson Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 2:12 AM To: 'Old Horn List' Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Re: Schumann Konzertstuck - newer arrangement Graeme Evans wrote: > You can be assured that everyone who plays this piece re-arranges it >somewhat so that (usually) the 2nd horn gets some of the melodic >material. I rarely find myself in the position of disagreeing with something that Graeme has written, but I could not let this assertion slip by unchallenged. Although I would not consider myself an expert on this work, as our colleagues in the AHQ might rightly be considered, I have had occasion to perform it publicly around a dozen times over the last 20 years, always on first horn (just by dint of circumstances, not out of any contempt for the other parts), always playing all the notes of the part as originally written (simply because I do not see the grave problem which to me would need to be present before I could justify mucking around with the composer's orchestration) and always playing the part on whatever regular double horn I used primarily at the time (even though I might have had my Paxman descant collecting dust in the locker downstairs - because I find the sound quality and especially the blend and balance with my colleagues to be better when I stay on the double). Some of those performances have been more triumphant than others, but I don't believe any were tragic. I have had the opportunity to hear Richard Burdick perform on several occasions, know him to be a very accomplished hornist, and have no doubt that he is likewise up to the challenges the work presents in its original orchestration. Nor do I believe that we are alone. In fact, I suspect it may be something of a recent trend to rearrange the parts; up until relatively recently I was not aware of many players doing so. In my school days, it was something of a point of honor to play the part as written - if one chose to play it at all. We would no more have considered leaving out selected bits of the Konzertstück than we would have considered actually taking the high B in the duet with the flute in Shostakovich 5 down an octave (even though Shostakovich, unlike Schumann does explicitly provide that option) There are some very taxing solo concerti in the repertoire, which many of the players who are rearranging these Konzertstücks perform without batting an eye - and they certainly would never consider having an assistant standing by or redistributing some of the solo part to the orchestral horns. Finally, I would hate to sacrifice playing the body of the second movement for what I consider to be two good reasons: 1) It is the movement which I find musically the most interesting to perform and 2) I find it to be just what the doctor ordered at that point in the performance - a bit of playing in comfortable and mid-low registers - precisely what many of us would choose to do if given the opportunity to loosen up before the third movement. Do not get me wrong - I know that many fine performers DO rearrange the parts to very good effect, and it can be argued that that is their prerogative. It is not my intention to question their judgment or qualifications in any way. However, the generalization that everyone does it is simply false. David B. Thompson Solo Horn, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hans%40pizka.d e _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
