Question about instrument names (Beethoven's 5th)

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Rachmaninoff
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Question about instrument names (Beethoven's 5th)

Post by Rachmaninoff »

On Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st movement, the first 7 instruments are written as:
  • Flauti
    Oboi
    Clarinetti in B
    Fagotti
    Corni in Es
    Trombe in C
    Timpani in C.G
I interpret them as being:
  • Flute
    Oboe
    Clarinet in Bb
    Basson
    Horn in Eb
    Trumpet in C
    Timpani in C.G
Am I correct?

Also, are these names in Italian? And the timpani does need to have the appended "C.G", since it uses a bass clef?

Thanks.
scottorr
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Post by scottorr »

I believe the timpani needs the appendix "C.G." because that is the required tuning it needs for the piece. One drum is tuned to C and the other to G. But perhaps I'm wrong.

If there are any orchestra or percussion avidists out there let us know.
daphnis
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Post by daphnis »

Your translation is correct, they are Italian names.
The timpani requires the appendix in order to indicate both how many drums are required, and to which pitches they are tuned.
carmar1791
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Post by carmar1791 »

Yes your translation is correct,but obviously I think you know that those italian names are plural...clarinetti is clarinets etc... :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Ciao :) :) :) :)
Rachmaninoff
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Post by Rachmaninoff »

Thanks guys!
carmar1791 wrote:Yes your translation is correct,but obviously I think you know that those italian names are plural...clarinetti is clarinets etc...
Yes, thanks for confirming this!
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Re: Question about instrument names (Beethoven's 5th)

Post by sbeckmesser »

The present urtext-du-jour of the Beethoven 5 (edited by Jonathan del Mar, Barenreiter) has "clarini in do" instead of "trumpet" or "tromba." This is important in that it refers to valveless "natural" trumpets. These sound quite different from modern valved trumpets playing the same pitches, especially if the modern trumpets are not themselves in C.

--Sixtus
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