Posted by Mike Solms on January 28, 2003 at 18:23:24:
In Reply to: Samson et Delilah posted by tony on January 27, 2003 at 09:44:12:
I found a facsimilie copy of an 1894 Durand score. There are parts for two ophicleides, who play only in Act 1, Scene 2 starting at rehearsal letter "A". They play exactly the same line as Abimelich is singing, one ophicleide in unison, the other an octave down. There are only two places where the ophicleides deviate from the vocal line. The first is in the 21st measure after "A" where there is a sustained note. Abimelich cuts off after seven beats, while the ophicleides hold for 13 beats. The other is in the first measure of letter "C", where the ophicleides cut off on beat 1 (this is their last note) and Abimelich holds for two beats.
There are two notations in the score concerning the ophicleide parts. The first is that the tuba can play the lower line instead of a second opicleide. The score also contains transposed parts in F with the notation that the ophicleide parts can be played by the third and fourth horn. If you have the rental parts, check the third and fourth horn parts. If they have any music btween "A" and "C", then that's where the ophicleide parts went. All the brass except for the ophicleides are tacet in this section in the score