Editing Jacques Offenbach (section)

====Orchestration====
In his early pieces for the Bouffes-Parisiens, the size of the orchestra pit had restricted Offenbach to an orchestra of sixteen players.<ref>Faris, p. 39</ref> He composed for [[flute]], [[oboe]], [[clarinet]], [[bassoon]], two [[French horn|horns]], [[cornet|piston]], [[trombone]], percussion (including [[timpani]]) and a small string section of seven players.<ref name=keck/> After moving to the {{lang|fr|Salle Choiseul|italic=no}} he had an orchestra of 30 players.<ref name=keck/> The musicologist and Offenbach specialist [[Jean-Christophe Keck]] notes that when larger orchestras were available, either in bigger Paris theatres or in Vienna or elsewhere, Offenbach would compose, or rearrange existing music, accordingly. Surviving scores show his instrumentation for additional wind and brass, and even extra percussion. When they were available he wrote for [[cor anglais]], [[harp]], and – exceptionally, Keck records – an [[ophicleide]] (''Le Papillon''), [[tubular bells]] (''Le carnaval des revues''), and a [[wind machine]] (''[[Le voyage dans la lune (opera-féerie)|Le voyage dans la lune]]'').<ref name=keck/>

Hughes describes Offenbach's orchestration as "always skilful, often delicate, and occasionally subtle". He instances Pluton's song in ''Orphée aux enfers'',{{refn|In the 1874 revision this number is a duet for Pluton and Euridice.|group= n}} introduced by a three-bar phrase for solo clarinet and solo bassoon in octaves immediately repeated on solo flute and solo bassoon an octave higher.<ref>Hughes, p. 45</ref> In Keck's view, "Offenbach's orchestral scoring is full of details, elaborate counter-voices, minute interactions coloured by interjections of the woodwinds or brass, all of which establish a dialogue with the voices. His refinement of design equals that of Mozart or Rossini."<ref name=keck>[[Jean-Christophe Keck|Keck, Jean-Christophe]]. [http://www.offenbach-edition.com/EN/OEK/Pladoyer.asp "The need for an authentic Offenbach"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321215122/http://www.offenbach-edition.com/EN/OEK/Pladoyer.asp |date=21 March 2012 }}, Offenbach Edition, Keck, Boosey & Hawkes. Retrieved 16 July 2011</ref>