Mark Ehlert ([log in to unmask]) wrote: >Chris Bonds wrote: > >>Can anyone think of other examples where the effect would be enhanced by >>the opposition seating of violins? > >How about the last movement of Brahms 1st Symphony? The finale of Beethoven 7 is the one that does it for me. Unless the violins are divided, the full effect of the throwing around of *the* phrase among the strings, leading to the firsts and seconds playing it (climactically) in thirds is simply lost. Carlos Kleiber's recording is the best I know at this point. Deryk Barker [log in to unmask]