Posted by Alex C on June 17, 2002 at 19:03:31:
In Reply to: Ewald 1st Quintet- Instrumentation posted by A Thought on June 17, 2002 at 16:10:17:
I have played this work in nearly original instrumentation. (The horn player refused to play an alto horn.) I got the "original" reproduction parts from Carl Fisher decades ago.
Performing the piece this way was ear-opening! The harmonics, between the "original" instruments, were totally unexpected and completely missing with modern instrumentation. New colors appeared everywhere. The harmonics between the tuba and euphonium were amazing. The second movement became stringlike with conical instruments.
Ewald's Quintet is a fine Romantic work for brass, a rare thing. Even if it is overplayed, it is fine music. You should hear it and play it with original instruments if you ever have the opportunity.