Requiem (Berlioz) - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

The Requiem is scored for a very large orchestra, four offstage brass bands, and chorus placed throughout the hall:

Woodwinds: 4 Flutes; 2 Oboes; 2 Cors anglais; 4 Clarinets in B-flat; 8 Bassoons

Brass: 12 Horns (4 parts + 2 extra in Mvt 2); 4 Cornets in B-flat; 4 Tubas

Percussion: 16 Timpani (10 players); 2 Bass Drums; 10 pairs of Cymbals; 4 Tam-tams

4 Brass Choirs

Choir 1 to the North

4 Cornets

4 Trombones

2 Tubas

Choir 2 to the East

4 Trumpets

4 Trombones

Choir 3 to the West

4 Trumpets

4 Trombones

Choir 4 to the South

4 Trumpets

4 Trombones

4 Ophicleides (usually substituted by Tubas)

Voices

Chorus:

80 Sopranos and Altos (exact ratio not specified)

60 Tenors

70 Basses

Tenor solo

Strings: 25 Violin I; 25 Violin II; 20 Violas; 20 Violoncellos; 18 Double Basses

In relation to the number of singers and strings, Berlioz indicates in the score that, "The number indicated is only relative. If space permits, the chorus may be doubled or tripled, and the orchestra be proportionally increased. But in the event of an exceptionally large chorus, say 700 to 800 voices, the entire chorus should only be used for the Dies Irae, the Tuba Mirum, and the Lacrymosa, the rest of the movements being restricted to 400 voices."

The work premiered with over four hundred performers.

Read more about this topic: Requiem (Berlioz)