Nehmen

As Printed on a Score

Printed in a part during the rest before an instrument change — “nehmen Piccolo”, “nimmt gr. Flöte”, “nehmen wieder grosse Flöten” — often with schnell when time is short. A player number may lead (“III. u. IV. Fl. nehmen Piccolo”). The staff name and transposition change with it.

Also spelled: nimmt, übernimmt

How Composers Use It

The German equivalent of muta or prendere: tell the player what to take, and where. Leave enough rest — a few seconds for flute to piccolo, longer for an instrument that needs warming or tuning — and remember that the part’s transposition and clef change too. Übernimmt is different: it hands a line to another player or hand (‘takes over’), not a new instrument.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, fifth movement (Rondo-Finale), flutes, m. 373: “III. u. IV. Fl. nehmen Piccolo”, beside “Grazioso.” — the third and fourth players change instruments.

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