Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg - Prelude to act III
Original Title
Composer
Wagner, Richard
Year
1867
Editor
Arranger
Shafer, Mort
Year Arranged
2000
Original Instrumentation
Full orchestra
Type of Arrangement
2
Availability
1
Publisher
Hornists Nest
Year Published
2000
Catalogue Number
HN 88
Sheet Music Format
A4, Score 3) & parts (6x1=6)
Horns
6
Additional Equipment
Others
Other Instruments
Difficulty
1
Duration
6
Structure / Movements
One movement.
Etwas gedehnt - Sehr feierlich - Sehr breit
Clefs
Treble, bass
Meters
C, 3/2
Key signatures
1b, 2#
Range
Horn 1: d1 - a2
Horn 2: f - c2
Horn 3: c#1 - a2
Horn 4: f# - c#1
Horn 5: G - f1
Horn 6: G - a#1
Creator's Comments
The score to "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg" was finished in October, 1867, some twenty two years after the first sketches. The first performance occurred in June, 1868 at Munich.
In this arrangement for six horns by Mort Shafer, the opening cello passage has been slurred differently in the 5th and 6th parts in an effort to make the line as smooth as possible. From B to D and from G to H, the original instrumentation is for bassoons and horns, and the low second bassoon part is again assigned to horns 5 and 6. The other musical material is primarily in the strings and should be played with a Wagnerian intensity.
Performance Notes
The "Prelude to act III" from Die Meistersinger is the slow introduction to the final act of the opera. Not having many technical difficulties, it is mainly the tuning that presents a challenge in this arrangement. Most of the voices have individual lines all the way through (except for horns 5 and 6), so there is little trusting the player next to you. It's interesting to play, but whether you want to do so depends on whether you like the piece.