 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2005-02-03 06:15
Hi guys, just a quick question. The Strauss Suite for 13 winds is written for double woodwinds, four horns and either a tuba or a contra bassoon. Is it possible to use a double bass instead of the other bass instruments?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-03 07:08
The Opus 4, Suite in Bb for 13 Wind Instruments should, of course, be performed with tuba or contra bassoon. A double bass will theoretically work, but would not have the same tonal color and balance as either the tuba or contra bassoon. I think that the unique musical effect of the different wind choirs breathing together would be lost when using a double bass. Also, substituting a double bass no longer makes the piece technically a Suite for Wind Instruments.
It is usually far easier to find a willing tuba player than an available contra bassoonist, so I would explore further, before substituting a double bass.
I recently did a performance of the Opus 7 Serenade (same instrumentation) and we used the tuba instead of the contra bassoon. The sound was quite nice...GBK
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-02-03 20:26
I think a double bass would be fine. The Mozart Serenade for 13 Winds is often (if not usually) performed with a double bass, and it's still called the Serenade for 13 Winds (with an asterix perhaps).
Of course, Mozart probably didn't have too many decent contra bassoons or contra bass clarinets to work with, and the scoring of the bass part is possibly ambiguous. Strauss seems to have lived in a musical instrument shop with all the instruments he scored for. A surplus of opportunities does not necessarily make a better composer - not that there's anything wrong with Strauss.
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