Just use your standard double. If I remember correctly, and it's been a few years, horn 1 is in G all the way. But I could be wrong.
Yes, you are wrong. The 1st & 2nd horns are in Bb alto for the minor keyed movements and E flat (I think!) for the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th horns are in G. The 3rd & 4th horn parts in the 3rd movt. trio are quite exposed with the 2 oboes, and need to play in a stylish manner, not dominating. If I remember correctly, as I don't have the score in front of me, the 3rd & 4th horns are tacet in the 2nd movement.
Either way, I don't remember the Bb parts being that high anyways. The only reason there is four horns is because of the minor key; you need a pair of natural horns in Bb so the mediant of a G minor chord is an open tone on a Bb horn. In the trio, the G horns and the Bb horns trade off in the melodic line for this very reason.
The place where the melody is traded between the Bb and G horns is in the last movement. It is quite feasible to play the 1st horn part on a double horn, but this work can be a problem to balance. It is critical that the horns do not play in a heavy style, otherwise the horn parts become very thick. Lightness in the tutti passages is the key to playing this work well.
Cheers,
Graeme Evans (Principal Horn, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra) +61 3 9318 0690(H), +61 419 880371(B), +61 3 93180893(Fax) E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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