as 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons. The quality of tone
will lose nothing of its individuality, and will gain in power, but
its capacity for expression will be diminished accordingly. An
instrument enjoys greater independence and freedom when used as a solo
than when it is doubled. The use of doubling and mixed timbres is
naturally more frequent in loud passages than in soft ones, also where
expression and colour is broad rather than individual or intimate in
character.

I cannot refrain from mentioning how greatly I dislike the
method of duplicating all the wood-wind, in order to balance
a group of strings, reinforced out of all reason, to suit
the ever-growing dimensions of concert halls. I am convinced
that, artistically speaking, a limit should be set to the
size of both concert room and orchestra. The music performed
at these super-concerts must be specially composed on a plan
of its own--a subject which cannot be considered here.

Combination in octaves.

When the melody is entrusted to two wood-wind instruments in octaves,
the usual arrangement producing natural resonance is:

8 [Fl. Fl. Fl. Ob. Ob. Cl.
[Ob. Cl. Fag. Cl. Fag. Fag.] 8.

The combination of flute and bassoon in octaves is rare on account of
the widely separated registers of the two instruments. Deviation from
the natural order, such as placing the bassoon above the clarinet or
oboe, the clarinet above the oboe or flute etc., creates an unnatural
resonance occasioned by the confusion of registers, the instrument of
lower compass playing in its high register and _vice versa_. The lack
of proper relationship between the different tone qualities then
becomes apparent.

_Examples:_

No. 56. _Spanish Capriccio_ [[O]]--Fl./Ob.] 8.

No. 57. _Snegourotchka_ [[254]]--Fl./Eng. horn] 8.

* No. 58. _Sheherazade_, 3rd movement [[E]]--Fl./Cl.] 8.

_Sadko_ [[195]]--Fl./Eng. horn] 8.

_Pan Voyevoda_ [[132]]--Fl./Cl.] 8.

_Tsar Saltan_ [[39]]--Cl./Fag.] 8.

No. 59. _Vera Scheloga_ [[30]]--Cl./Fag.] 8, likewise any number of
examples in the scores of various composers.

The use of two instruments of the same colour in octaves, e.g. 2
flutes, 2 clarinets or 2 bassoons etc., if not exactly to be avoided
is certainly not to be recommended, as the instruments, playing in
different registers will not correspond one with the other.
Nevertheless this method may be safely employed when stringed
instrum