In the Eulenburg score the 1st trombone has some high Cs (measures
147-9) but I didn't see a high D. In the Dover edition (where all three
parts are written on one staff, in bass clef) the 1st trombone never
goes that high: at a quick glance the highest note is an E just above
middle C.
What is sure is that the trombone parts were not added to this piece:
they were there already but were removed (or simply not used) for the
first performance of "Barbiere". The story, if I remember rightly, goes
something like this: Rossini had written an overture for "Barbiere"
composed of Spanish themes, but at the last minute decided that it
wasn't good enough. He didn't have time to compose a new one, so he
used an overture that he was presumably proud of, having used it in two
previous operas. He probably had a look at the scoring, quickly saw
that the piece would work without trombones, and gave the parts to the
musicians. He didn't make a new version of the score: there was no time
and this wasn't necessary anyway: he, or any other conductor, could
conduct from the old score with the trombone parts in it. What later
happened when the piece became a success and was edited, I do not know:
the piece has gone through so many editions that it would be a huge
work of research to find out.
In fact: Johannes, why do you need to know the scoring? Has all this
discussion given you the reply you wanted?
Michael
On 18 Feb 2006, at 03:30, Raymond Horton wrote:
Michael, please note that I purposely did not say someone ELSE added
the trombone parts. I said SOMEONE, specifically to leave open the
possibility that it was the composer. I just had the internal
evidence: The parts seem to be old, (before the later 19th century
when the valve tenor trombone took over in Italy, because the first
part is quite high, putting it sqarely in alto trombone register).
This would put the parts more likely in the composers pen than a
later arranger, if all on I had to guess were the notes themselves.
Since you have other evidence, that I don't I'll take your word.
(Although I recall seeing a score, many years ago, with the first part
not so high, so that is another confusion. Perhaps Rossini revised it
for another performance with no alto trombone?) Does the first
trombone part you have go up to high D at the breakup strain in the
middle?
RBH
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