Prom 12 (23.7.12): Beethoven Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was once quite forcefully told off for referring to "Woodwinds and Horns" in an essay in my formative years: the Horns are part of the woodwind section, I was told. "But they're made of Brass and sit with the trumpets and trombones behind the flutes and oboes", meprotesteth. To no avail.

Takes more than threats to dissuade me from my own sense of logic, and I've referred to "woodwinds and Horns" e'rsince!

[rauschwerk]

[QUOTE=Osborn;188300Again to lighten the mood, here's Katie D:
"Precision rehearsal by Barenboim: to horn "play 3% sharper. You are not flat but it smells of being flat"!!!! Extraordinary. #BBCProms"[/QUOTE]

If Barenboim really said that, then it's a prime candidate for Pseud's Corner. 3% is half a semitone, for heaven's sake! That's flat by any standards.

[PJPJ]

If Barenboim really said that, then it's a prime candidate for Pseud's Corner. 3% is half a semitone, for heaven's sake! That's flat by any standards.

Perhaps he meant 3% between D and D sharp, i.e very slightly sharp?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Perhaps he meant 3% between D and D sharp, i.e very slightly sharp?

I must admit - that's what I would have thought. Anyhow, it's not likely that DB meant it to be taken literally.

[Hornspieler]

And Mozart's Quintet K452 is listed as 'for winds and keyboard, although it contains a horn. It seems to me the horns make or break the rules to suit themselves. On everything.

Exactly so! Which emphasises the fact that the horn is a wind instrument, but not a woodwind instrument.
Trumpets, trombones and tuba are also wind instruments but, like the horn, are made of metal. Savophones are sometimes made metal and sometimes of composite plastic, but, being reed instruments are admitted (reluctantly by some purist)s into the woodwind section.

What about the ophicleide?, you may ask. Well, knowing how to spell it is an achievement in itself. It has keys like a woodwind instrument and a mouthpiece like a trombone.

Take your pick!

HS