Non-MS/orchestration question
Referring to the 'cello/bass line in the attached, should one take the "UNITI" direction to mean the 'cellos and basses are to be in the same octave or instead for the basses to be an octave lower than the 'cellos?
One would typically expect the basses to be an octave lower in this writing, but the "UNITI" direction might indicate otherwise. I've never seen any kind of unison direction in this particular scenario; usually having both 'cello and bass indicated to the left of the left-side bracket means they are an octave apart as sounded.
(This is from Verdi's opera Don Carlo, the Act IV duet between King Philip and the Grand Inquisitor.)
Thanks,
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Comments
My opinion:
The composer (or Transcriber) said "UNITI/Unified(?)" because he wrote both instruments to the same staff.
Every part (Cellos, Contrabasses) will play whatever they see in the score on their instruments. And naturally, the Contrabasses will be heard from an octave below.
A score shouldn't expect any player to transpose a part themselves, so I think contrabasses will still be playing an octave lower. Maybe the parts (staves) of cellos and basses are separate on the previous system and get unified here.
In reply to A score shouldn't expect any… by Howard-C
Remember though, this is a conductor's score, not a part. It might look different (or not!) if the part was looked at.
In reply to Remember though, this is a… by marty strasinger
I've seen conductor's scores in concert pitch, but not one containing a "UNITI" meaning something like that. If in concert pitch, contrabasses should have that "bass clef 8vb" clef.
OK.
I examined the partitura. And I found a place where they separated.
See the picture below.
ActI; last five measures; page 9
In reply to OK. I examined the partitura… by Ziya Mete Demircan
Everyone, thanks very much! This is what I was thinking, but normally the transcriber doesn't go to the extra step of stating "UNITI" when the instruments are doubled on the same staff.