Symphony No. 1 "The Gothic" (Brian) - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

The orchestral forces for this symphony are commonly thought to be the largest employed in the symphonic repertoire. The first part of the work uses an orchestra of about half the size of the full forces:

• woodwind: 2 piccolos, 6 flutes (1 doubling alto flute), 6 oboes (1 doubling oboe d'amore, 1 doubling bass oboe), 2 cors anglais, clarinet in E-flat, 5 clarinets in B-flat (1 doubling 2nd E-flat clarinet), 2 basset horns, 2 bass clarinets in B-flat, contrabass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons

• orchestral brass: 8 horns in F, 8 trumpets (2 doubling cornets in E-flat), bass trumpet, 3 tenor trombones, bass trombone (doubling 2nd contrabass trombone), contrabass trombone, 2 euphoniums, 2 tubas

• percussion: 2 sets of timpani, 2 bass drums, 2 (preferably 3) snare drums, African long drum, 2 tambourines, 2 triangles, 6 pairs of large cymbals, gong, bird scare, thunder machine, small chains, xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, chimes in E-flat

• keyboards: celesta, organ

• voices: solo quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), 4 mixed choirs, children's choir, all divided into as many as 37 voice parts at one point in the work

• four offstage brass bands—used only in the fifth and sixth movements and each comprising: 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, 2 tubas, 1 set of timpani

• strings: 2 harps (preferably more ad lib.), 20 first violins, 20 second violins, 16 violas, 14 cellos, 12 double basses.

In practice, some small reductions can be made without discernible loss (e.g. cutting two of the orchestral trumpets and the doubling to 2nd contrabass trombone).