As a recovering band director, I find this thread interesting. Check out the really cool string bass part in Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas Music (originally for band, now also for orchestra). The part is cued in the tubas, but it is a walking (almost jazzy) pizzicato line that I don't think transfers to the tuba so well. In the absence of string bass it is best left out.
>From the liner notes to Fennell's recording of the Gran Partita with Eastman >on the Mercury label: "Confusion reigns among Mozart scholars over what bass instrument Mozart intended to be used in that vital role. The available copy of the autograph of the first page simply carried the term 'Contrabasso' at the bass line, the string bass thus becoming the an undeniable element of consideration. Those who felt the string instrument to be an intrusion resorted to its replacement by a contrabassoon, which instrument Mozart knew well and used elsewhere. The recent perfection and general availability of the contrabass clarinet qualifies this instrument for entry into the confusion." He goes on to say that pizzicato is indicated so obviously (to me) string bass was one option. If the bass line in Baroque and early Classical works could be played interchangeably by any bass instrument, then I bet that it is acceptable to this piece. What I thought was interesting was that Fennell used string bass, contrabassoon AND contrabass clarinet! (though not at the same time) He argues that if Mozart had the contra-clarinet then he would have used it! I bet some scholars would take issue with that line of argument. Cheers, Steve Burian ******************* _________________________________________________________________ The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox 360 Console. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/_______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
