Question by Mr D: Is there a version of Tchaikovsky 1812 overture without bells?
Is there a version of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture without the stupid bells during the climax? Every version I find has the bells as well as the cannon fire. For the love of God, can someone make a version without the cannons and bells?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Giambattista76
HI, at home I have 3 different recordings of the 1812 and I don’t hear in either of them the cannons. The bells are present in 2 recordings, but I’m afraid that in the third the reason of the missing bells is that the recording is on a “cheap” CD (here, in my country in every shopping mall you can buy “classical masterpieces” for approx. 2 $ ) and perhaps the orchestra didn’t have time to find a player or I don’t know.
However, I think that bells can sound very well (it depends on the quality because I heard a version where the bells sounded like doorbells…). The ending of “1812” is composed to be as spectacular as possible (for the sake of God, symphonic orchestra + military band…), so to achieve this effect, even the bells are needed. But it’s only my opinion, if you would like a version without “accessories”, I can send it (the “cheap” version) to you, just write to me.
Read all the answers in the comments.
What do you think?
Alberich says
They are not to suppose to. Tchaikovsky's score calls for all these; it was written as a celebratory composition, to be performed out of doors, and should be viewed in this context.
One needs to remember, that during the 19th/early 20th centuries, electronic sound amplification was not available: so that "bombastic" means were necessary for him to achieve his intent.
Alberich