Berlioz, Hector (1803 - 69)

[cloughie]

Oh I thought they were actually composed that way!

(I'll get me coat...)

I do wonder whether some composers in the 30s and 40s had the side length of a 78 in their sights when composing shorter pieces

[Bryn]

I do wonder whether some composers in the 30s and 40s had the side length of a 78 in their sights when composing shorter pieces

Well Stravinsky certainly did in the case of his Serenade in A for piano.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm as puzzled as Alpie, Bbm - the S F & T is a work for concert band (woodwinds, brass, and perks): what have you "transcribed"?

From Wikipedia:

'The Funeral and Triumphal Symphony was originally scored for a wind band of 200 players marching the procession accompanying the remains of those who had died fighting in the 1830 revolution on their way to reinterment beneath a memorial column erected on the site of the Bastille. On the day of the parade, little of the 3rd movement could be heard over the cheering crowds on the column when the ceremony was about to end as it was about to be reprised while the 1st and 3rd movements were heard during the procession and the 2nd during the dedication proper; but the work was such a success at the dress rehearsal that it was performed twice more in August and became one of the composer's most popular works during his lifetime.[4] Berlioz revised the score in January 1842, adding an optional part for strings and a final chorus to a text by Antony Deschamps. Richard Wagner attended a performance of this new version at the Salle Vivienne on 1 February 1842. On 5 February, he told Robert Schumann that he found passages in the last movement of Berlioz's symphony so "magnificent and sublime that they can never be surpassed." '

[BBMmk2]

I'm as puzzled as Alpie, Bbm - the S F & T is a work for concert band (woodwinds, brass, and perks): what have you "transcribed"?

I have transcribed it for modern concert band, Alpie and Ferney. Yes I know about the history of F & TS very well and what the reason for it was too. But the modern concert band is slightly different to that in which Berlioz scored it for. Nevertheless, with this medium in mind(the modern concert band), its very well into the criteria that Berlioz had intended, of which I am very pleased in what I have done and so have other people, who have given me high praise for my work on this.

[Alain Maréchal]

Mention of the SFetT prompted some research. I had not realised that I was unaware of the disappearance two years ago of the great Désiré Dondeyne. (In truth I had not realised he lived to that age). Not only do I have two recordings of it by him, he once conducted me (with several hundred others) in a performance of it.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9sir%C3%A9_Dondeyne

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have transcribed it for modern concert band, Alpie and Ferney. Yes I know about the history of F & TS very well and what the reason for it was too. But the modern concert band is slightly different to that in which Berlioz scored it for. Nevertheless, with this medium in mind(the modern concert band), its very well into the criteria that Berlioz had intended, of which I am very pleased in what I have done and so have other people, who have given me high praise for my work on this.

Ah! Understood and appreciated.

[Richard Barrett]

I have transcribed it for modern concert band

So what are the differences between a modern concert band and the one Berlioz wrote for? (I've never got to know this piece, should do so I suppose...)

[BBMmk2]

So what are the differences between a modern concert band and the one Berlioz wrote for? (I've never got to know this piece, should do so I suppose...)

Berlioz's:-
4 piccolos
5 flutes
5 oboes
5 clarinets(Eb)
26 clarinets(bb)
2 bass clarinets
8 bassoons & contrabassoon
12 horns(various keys)
8 trumpets
10 trombones and bass trombone
6 opheicliedes
timpani(8 players)
percussion(3 players)
This was for the first performance in the open air. Hence the numbers.

My version for modern concert band

Piccolo
Eb & Alto Flute
Oboes
Cor Anglais
Bassoons & contrabassoon
Eb Clarinets
Bb Clarinets
Bass Clarinet & contrabass clarinet
Saxophones: Altos, Tenors and baritone
Trumpets
Cornets and Flugelhorn
Horns in F
3 Trombones and bass trombone
Euphonium
Tubas
Assorted percussion.

Hope this clarifies the situation but the concert band instrumentation is the one I usually use, with occasional visiting instruments.

[Richard Barrett]

Thanks Bbm.

Piccolo
Eb & Alto Flute

No ordinary flutes?! & how do you manage to hear an alto flute in an ensemble like that?

[BBMmk2]

Thanks Bbm.



No ordinary flutes?! & how do you manage to hear an alto flute in an ensemble like that?

Good question but composers ask for them but, imo, I usually omit(which I should have said).

[Richard Barrett]

The Eb flute must be more or less exclusive to wind bands too, right? I'm very surprised it's not just a C flute that's used.

[BBMmk2]

The Eb flute must be more or less exclusive to wind bands too, right? I'm very surprised it's not just a C flute that's used.

Yes your right. Hardly ever appears in orchestras, only in either military or concert bands, etc.

[visualnickmos]

I have transcribed it for modern concert band, Alpie and Ferney. Yes I know about the history of F & TS very well and what the reason for it was too. But the modern concert band is slightly different to that in which Berlioz scored it for. Nevertheless, with this medium in mind(the modern concert band), its very well into the criteria that Berlioz had intended, of which I am very pleased in what I have done and so have other people, who have given me high praise for my work on this.

That's really great! Again, I've learned something; about the fact that Berlioz scored the work for concert band, and the fact that that differs from a modern concert band. For me, this is really fascinating - which one reason I love this forum. Yet another example of the sheer talent, skill and knowledge that abounds these hallowed boards. It makes,me - a mere 'listener' of music, feel quite insignificant! There must be many examples of works rescored, rearranged, and so on - that are perhaps not well-known? I think Liszt was a dab-hand of piano arrangements, for example....

[Serial_Apologist]

That's really great! Again, I've learned something; about the fact that Berlioz scored the work for concert band, and the fact that that differs from a modern concert band. For me, this is really fascinating - which one reason I love this forum. Yet another example of the sheer talent, skill and knowledge that abounds these hallowed boards. It makes,me - a mere 'listener' of music, feel quite insignificant! There must be many examples of works rescored, rearranged, and so on - that are perhaps not well-known? I think Liszt was a dab-hand of piano arrangements, for example....

And you could say a dab couple of hands at performing them!

[BBMmk2]

That's really great! Again, I've learned something; about the fact that Berlioz scored the work for concert band, and the fact that that differs from a modern concert band. For me, this is really fascinating - which one reason I love this forum. Yet another example of the sheer talent, skill and knowledge that abounds these hallowed boards. It makes,me - a mere 'listener' of music, feel quite insignificant! There must be many examples of works rescored, rearranged, and so on - that are perhaps not well-known? I think Liszt was a dab-hand of piano arrangements, for example....

He had done an awful lot!