Viennese unison

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Viennese unison refers to an instrumentation technique in which an upper or middle voice is emphasized by doubling it both an octave lower and an octave higher (similar to an organ registration 16 '+ 8' + 4 ' ). A typical combination is the use of a violin section for the normal register, a transverse flute for the higher and a bassoon for the lower octave range. For the normal position, an oboe or a clarinet can be used instead.

The origin of the term is unclear; it can be documented from the 1930s. He should aim for this technique to be found frequently among representatives of Viennese classicism . Examples can be found in the music of the 18th century but also with other composers.

Examples (chronological):

Individual evidence

  1. Reese 1939, p. 88.

literature

  • Bernhard Grundner: Instrumentation and treatment of the wind instruments in Mozart's orchestra using the example of operas . Munich: Utz Verlag 1998, ISBN 978-3-89675-433-2 .
  • William H. Reese: Principles and Development of Instrumentation in the Pre-Classical and Classical Symphony , Graefenhainichen: Schulze 1939.
  • Uri Toeplitz: The woodwinds in Mozart's music and their relationship to the choice of key , Baden-Baden: Koerner 1978, ISBN 3-87320-562-9 .