Wagner's Ring Without Words...

[Corno Dolce]

Just got back from hearing my colleagues in the Honolulu Symphony, especially the Brasswinds play *The Ring*. It was a lusty, high-calorie, full-bore, hell-for-leather performance that brought the house down. 3000 people filled the hall to the gills and just kept on clapping, calling the Maestro to the podium and the Orchestra did the *drum-roll* with their feet on the soundstage - boy did that resonate in the hall!

Anyway, now I have this urge to get the Conductor's copy of the Orchestral score to *The Ring* and start to adapt and arrange it for the organ. I'm going to hopefully learn to play it by heart - 60 minutes of music! Sorry, I will not do any recordings - My own personal policy.

 

[marval]

Hi CD

That sounds as if it was a very good concert, glad you enjoyed it. You will enjoy adapting it for the organ I am sure.


Margaret

 

[Krummhorn]

Hi CD,

What a tremendous experience that must have been ... including the audience's enthusiasm at the end.

Sounds like a monumental task doing the transcription, but ... you da' man. Too bad you won't record it when it's completed ... guess we will have to come over to the island to hear you play sometime instead.

 

[Contratrombone64]

The Honolulu Symphony's been through some tought times, recent, or am I mistaken? Good to hear them in fine form.

As to transcribing Wagner for the organ ... I've done some little bits and pieces, not as easy as it would seem. You might want to grab a copy of the piano reduction of the operas, at least there are some vaguely pianistic (though not necessarily organistic) renderings. I own the Ring in full score and piano vocal (as well as all the other Wagner operas from Tanhauser on ... )

 

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha CT64,

And they still are in tough straits. Many symphony players have come and gone since I moved to Hawaii in '92. With the exception of a handful of musicians, the whole orchestra has rotated in and out completely at least seven times if not more....

Which edition of the full score do you have? Könemann of Budapest? I have the complete organ transcriptions done by Lemare but after hearing the *Ring Without Words* realised by Lorin Maazel, I felt and feel ever stronger for everyday that passes that I need the Maazel adaptation - its just such a fabulous synthesis in my mind.

Cheerio,

CD

 

[Contratrombone64]

I have the Dover full scores of the Ring (not critical or urtext but cheap) and the vocal score by some unpronounceable publisher at Leipzig, whose name escapes me at present. The Die Meistersinger vocal score is enormous (complete with English translation, and a shocking one at that), would kill a cat if dropped upon.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Thanx for letting me know about the editions. Methinks that publishing house in Leipzig is named *Rahter*.

 

[Contratrombone64]

Sweet Corn - I'll have to check - I love my Ring and Mastersingers vocal scores, they're ancient and well used (a bit like you I guess).

 

[Corno Dolce]

What the??? Me??? Well used??????? My Lady doesn't like to hear such things........