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What do the numbers mean?

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Home Forums Forum Archives Professional Harpists What do the numbers mean?

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • #151952
    Sid Humphreys
    Participant

    Can someone please tell me what the numbers mean

    #151953
    catherine-rogers
    Participant

    This is the orchestration which shows how many of which instruments are needed to perform the piece. The number in parentheses after the title is the duration of the work. For example, the Bizet is 18 minutes long if played at the composer’s indicated tempo, and the movements are 5 minutes, 4 minutes, 4 minutes and 5 minutes in order.

    The numbers underneath are the instrumentation. Winds are first. For the Mussorgsky, you have 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets and 3 bassoons.

    Next are the brass: 4 (french) horns, 2 trumpets + 2 auxiliary, 3 trombones and 1 tuba.

    You have the standard timpani plus 4 extra instruments (check the score to see what those are; could be triangle, gong, bass drum, etc.).

    You have harp and the usual strings (violin, viola, cello and bass). At the end it has “percussion to be determined.”

    #151954
    Sid Humphreys
    Participant

    Thank you Catherine!

    #151955
    Tacye
    Participant

    My understanding is that timp + 4 is a request for one player on timps and then 4 percussionists to hit other things (Perc tbd or perc = sd (standard) here seeming to refer to which instruments are needed- four players can play far more than four instruments in that section).

    #151956
    sherry-lenox
    Participant

    I have used the David Daniels v.3 many, many times since purchasing it, and I have just ordered v.4. If you are the sort of person who finds listening enriched by the addition of score reading, it is a perfect companion.

    #151957

    I know David Daniels. I sang under his baton when I won a concerto competition at Oakland University several years ago. It was a pleasant musical experience.

    Briggsie

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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