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The community orchestra I play in is going to tackle Wagner's Rienzi in February. Think "community orchestra" and not "CSO." What instrument would normally pick up the Serpent part? A third bassoon? A second tuba? Or the other way around, since the Serpent ends the piece and often plays an octave lower than the tuba? Practical responses would be appreciated.

In all my years of playing this piece and having conducted it recently, I NEVER have seen a "Serpent" part, not have I ever heard this part performed on any of the recordings I have. I have, however, seen 3 Bassoon parts with the 3rd being totally inconsequential to the piece, thus my choice to save money and leave it out. My advice, leave it out and play the tuba part. It's a corker of a part. Enjoy.

Chuck

I am comfortable with either the Basstuba or Serpent parts. I can't play both. Which should I play and what should be playing the other one?

Thanks Klaus. Still say leave it out. Never have heard it played, never have seen it played when I played it, never used it when conducting.

Chuck

Just played Rienzi with a community band Dec. 6th. The bass part (a straight transposition of the original string bass line,) required the two of us to split it (it IS notated that way, actually,) and by splitting it we were able to carry it off. I found it most helpful to listen some of the orchestra versions available and to get the feeling of what the composer was wanting from the basses. That may be a helpful track to follow...

Chuck Jackson wrote:Thanks Klaus. Still say leave it out. Never have heard it played, never have seen it played when I played it, never used it when conducting.

Chuck

Agree with Chuck--play the bass tuba part. In the concert band transcription, this part is combined with the string bass line which makes it a fairly challenging part for the tuba section (we performed this in our Christmas concert last week--very well received).

JJ

Chris Horsch wrote:What instrument would normally pick up the Serpent part? A third bassoon? A second tuba? Or the other way around, since the Serpent ends the piece and often plays an octave lower than the tuba? Practical responses would be appreciated.

When my orchestra played Rienzi, the contra-bassoon played the Serpent part. The tuba should of course play the tuba part A bass tuba (F, or Eb) is most appropriate - it is a nice part - enjoy!

Jonathan, kind of a formalistic question: did the contrabassoon apply its normal reading modus, which would take the part an octave lower than intended, or did it read an octave up?

Klaus

imperialbari wrote:Jonathan, kind of a formalistic question: did the contrabassoon apply its normal reading modus, which would take the part an octave lower than intended, or did it read an octave up?

He read up an octave up to play at written pitch