Double Bass note question in Beethoven 9, mvt. 4

[Ben Joella]

Hello all...

I have a question for all of you who have worked on Beethoven 9, mvt. 4. Specifically letter Q...

The Oscar Zimmerman book has the first pitches of the 1st and 3rd measures of letter Q as b natural. However, the new Barenreiter Urtext scores have the first pitch of the 1st measure of Q as d natural and the first pitch of the 3rd measure of Q as C#.

Does anyone have any insights from teachers or otherwise as to which is currently in favor? Say for an audition...or something.

Thanks much

 

[sibass89]

I don't have my part in front of me, but in general, the Barenreiter scores are probably the best editions out there and a reputable source far beyond that of Oscar Zimmerman.

 

[mahlerbass]

Oscar Zimmerman's books have been used to prepare for auditions and/or concerts for many years. That being said, I'm going to pull out my MN orc. recording and have a listen. If those notes aren't B natural, then many bassists have been practicing the wrong notes!

 

[neilG]

I have the Breitkopf edition here: 1st of Q, B natural, 3rd of Q is C#.

 

[PaulCannon]

Always play what Urtext says, if you have it. Zimmerman's books are full of errors, and I would think it's always best to prepare the piece as the composer wrote it.

 

[dannbass]

However, you have to keep in mind tradition. For example the recitative from the 9th, if you see the urtext edition it is different from the Zimmerman edition... and which edition is prefered in auditions? Zimmerman... I know, it's ugly, but it's true... the best thing to do is to research among the pros, to see what their orchestras do.

I know Cleveland Orchestra uses the Zimmerman bowings for the recitative...

 

[PaulCannon]

Tradition is one thing, particularly when you're discussing bowings. But when it's the pitches themselves, you really ought to ignore Zimmerman if Urtext has something different.

 

[Cory Palmer]

The best thing to do would be to contact whatever orchestra you are auditioning for at the time and see what editions they use. A lot of orchestras use older editions that won't have the same markings as the urtext editions. Unless a conductor brings his/her own parts for the orchestra to use they probably won't be using the urtext editions.