Posted by Steve Dedman on September 05, 2001 at 15:24:23:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Seating Question posted by Chuck(G) on September 05, 2001 at 11:12:27:
I don't think that anyone really knows what the original scoring was, owing to the disparity of instrumentation in the numerous Podunque orchestras in front of which Berlioz conducted The SF. What we take as the gospel today may simply be the instrumentation called for at a performance in Paris, for example, because the ensemble at Paris might have happened to have 2 ophicleide players. But the ensemble in the Rouen might have had 2 serpents. Or a serpent and an ophicleide. Anybody up for a Russian bassoon? heh-heh.
But we'll never know for sure what ol' Hector wanted, because he's beyond explaining. I think if someone wants to experiment with alternate instrumentation, more power to 'em. After all, that's what Berlioz did out of necessity almost every time he did the piece.