Posted by Nancy Vogt on April 30, 2001 at 05:31:19:
In Reply to: Mahler's Beethoven 9 posted by DCastillo on April 29, 2001 at 22:11:14:
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls orchestra did the Mahler arrangement last month (I played trombone). There are very minor changes in the bone parts, Mahler added a tuba, four additional horns and some woodwinds. The trumpets have quite a bit more to play than in the original - a lot more melodic lines made possible by the use of valves. Probably the biggest changes Mahler made were in tempo and use of rubato.
In my opinion he might have better spent his time on his own works. The extra weight of the orchestra makes harder work for the chorus and soloists, for one thing. It was interesting to play but did not seem to be a real improvement.