In case anyone was wondering

[rsc]

It's often the case that people make arrangements of music for instruments other than those for which they were originally written, either to make pieces accessible to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to hear them, or to expand the repertoire of a particular instrument. Sometimes these arrangements work reasonably well, and sometimes not.

While listening to WGBH this morning, I learned that the Bach G major cello suite arranged for horn is in the latter category. Just thought you'd like to know.

Comments

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I used to hear trombonists practice it, but that was pretty much as an exercise that their teacher forced them to do -- they wouldn't have ever programmed it on a recital, and no one I know would have gone to hear it. ;-)

[pdxchuck.livejournal.com]

I take it you are referring to the French horn? If so the horn is such a beautiful instrument. How could it go wrong? Must have been WGBH's recording equipment. :)

Although when thinking about it, perhaps the French horn may not be the best instrument for "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

[rsc.livejournal.com]

It was, in fact, the French horn. The guest on a live performance segment was the second hornist of the BSO (I think) -- which means that he tends to play the low parts; and this version of the suite was at the original pitch in the original octave, which meant it spent a lot of time down there in what is not really the horn's most beautiful register. And Bach, for some reason, never gave the cellist a chance to breathe, which makes life somewhat more difficult for a horn player.

[pdxchuck.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmm..... I think I understand now.