Instrumentation
Strauss's score is written for the following:
- Woodwind: 3 flutes (III doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn (also doubling on 3rd oboe), 3 clarinets (III also clarinet in E flat), basset-horn (also bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (III also contrabassoon)
- Brass: 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass tuba
- Percussion: timpani, bass drum and cymbals, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel, ratchet, tenor drum, snare drum, jingle bells, castanets
- celesta, 2 harps
- Strings: 16 violins I, 16 violins II, 12 violas, 10 cellos, 8 double basses
- Off-stage: 2 flutes, oboe, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 French horns, trumpet, drum, harmonium, piano, strings (5 excellent soloists, or richly reinforced, but not 2 per part)
Read more about this topic: Der Rosenkavalier