On the other hand, all those vibraphones and wood-blocks - are they really necessary? Would Bach, Beethoven or Brahms have approved?
With all of the unusual percussion (for the time) in Beethoven's 9th symphony, yeah, I think Beethoven would have approved. I mean, bass drum, cymbals,
and triangle? With timpani, too? Shocking!
That was actually typical 'Turkish' percussion. I believe Haydn used the same layout in his Symphony No. 100.
I'm aware of that. Mozart also used it in one of his Violin Concertos. I was being facetious.