Posted by Educated Guess on September 22, 2002 at 22:06:02:
In Reply to: gazza ladra posted by Davidmills on September 22, 2002 at 20:54:57:
If you're working from the Breitkopf edition, it's a sort of bastardized version done by Kogel with 3 bones and tuba. Since Rossini had room for only a very small orchestra, he probably used a single trombone. Doug Yeo has done some research on this and you might write him to get his take on this.
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This has nothing whatever to do with the question of tuba in GL orchestration, but it's funny anyway:
Once, while relaxing in his home, Rossini was approached by a musician who convinced Rossini to let him play. The musician got out his instrument, a drum, and announced he would play “the overture to La Gazza Ladra.” The drummer began to play and after the tremendous roll which opens the march in the overture, looked up, delighted with the noise he made. The drummer then explained “Here are now sixty bars’ rest--we will pass them over, and--.” where Rossini replied “I beg you will do no such thing. Please count them!”
Rossini had a habit of composing a song for his friend every year on his birthday. His friend, however, was a dog.