musikfind1 wrote:"Anyone have an autograph manuscript to see what Rimsky-Korsakov wrote?"
Looking at a copy of the autograph. The original is in the Public National Library in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The autograph has the first 3 notes in octaves with the 3rd trombone. On the C and for the rest of the passage R-K wrote in unison with the 3rd trombone.
The jump up the octave for the tuba is correct.
[yoda]
Correct it is ... make sense it does not.
[/yoda]
"Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." -- Pogo (via Walt Kelly)
Holy hell! Clearly it's supposed to be that way for any number of reasons and none of you's guys are TUBA reincarnate. Just play it as written, enjoy the sound, enjoy having a gig, and move on. ****, it doesn't take away from whatever inherent manliness you think tuba playing requires.
I was asked to play it down the octave. When I've talked with a couple of big time players, and specifically asked about this, they (maybe 3...) played it down. It makes musical sense, and if the instrument was indeed a 3v Eb or F, those pitches weren't possible. The fact that the basses (as well as EVERYONE else) play it down provides a lot of logic.
Bob Kolada wrote:Holy hell! Clearly it's supposed to be that way for any number of reasons and none of you's guys are TUBA reincarnate. Just play it as written, enjoy the sound, enjoy having a gig, and move on. ****, it doesn't take away from whatever inherent manliness you think tuba playing requires.
I'm trying to remember what the part looked like. I know played it down, but wondering if it was there in the edition or not. I know I discussed it...maybe just cussed it.
Played it twice with very reputable orchestras, once as written, once down. I liked it down, as did the bass trombonist. Adds some obvious depth to the line. This discussion could also apply to taking the "Dies Irae" down in the 2nd tuba part and taking the second chorale entrance in the New World down an octave. I have done both, prefered both, and the conductors liked the New World down (my choice) and asked for the Dies Irae down. Pokorny makes an interesting case for following the line on his exceprt cd where he plays a lick from the first movement of the Prokofiev 5 down (nails a pedal D). His reasoning is apt: if it suits the musical line, do it, if the conductor doesn't like, guess who wins. Nothing is illegal until you get caught.
Chuck
P.S.- Ihave to admit, of all the stuff I had played in my career, Scheherazade ranks as my favorite piece to play.
You forgot to mention the part about the bass trombonist thanking you for following the line that he paid your salary, including a $500 bonus for tuning to him and secured you a spot in another orchestra at twice the pay!
I am fortunate to have a great job that feeds my family well, but music feeds my soul.
bloke wrote:I played it two times this weekend, and flipped the line to match all of the other instruments.
After the Sunday matinee concert, the music director chased me out to my car, slapped me in the face, called me all sorts of names, spat on me, (of course) fired me, withheld my pay, docked me $500 for ruining the concert, and assured me "you'll never work in this town again".
But can those retired violinists and piano players throw (or take) a punch in the nose?
Rick "might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb" Denney
