Question: Advice On Parts

Yes, even the "old" guys need help! :nod: :happytears:

I have finished my musical drama and I am now preparing the final score.

In the preface of the score, I list the instrumentation (woodwinds here) as:

Question 1) Would you advise having the score read," reed 1,2,3..." or just have the score (on the margins) show the instruments

So all reeds in a group are playing the same thing throughout, except when there's a solo? What's with Flutes 1 & 2 above Reed 1 (since flute is already in Reed 1)? I don't really understand how you're arranging the score, but I'd stay away from using reed groups and show the instrument names instead.

Question 2) This is 75 minutes worth of music. Should I make this several files or one/two large Finale files.

How is the music divided? Are there acts or scenes or movements? I'm in the habit of keeping separate Finale files for each potentially independent section of a piece. That way if I add to a section later on I don't have to deal with format issues that sometimes pop up (a habit I developed from using older versions of the program and from dealing with conversions of old files to newer versions of Finale; as a bonus, separated files are smaller and easier to scroll through/work with). I either append the files together at the very end so I can check that my formattings/margins/space between systems are fairly consistent, or I just make separate .pdf files and append those.

Good luck!

The first two flutes never double. The next six reed players double. I'm trying to figure out the best way to handle these parts for printing and grouping purposes. Reed One, a different person, will also play flute, alto sax, and clarinet. I hope this clarifies!

I understand the legacy issue. Finale 3.0- 3.7.2 were so buggy, you HAD to keep the score separated.

Question 1) Would you advise having the score read," reed 1,2,3..." or just have the score (on the margins) show the instruments

Question 2) This is 75 minutes worth of music. Should I make this several files or one/two large Finale files.

1) Parts and score should indicate what doublings are needed. Call them:

Reed 1 (Flute, Alto Sax, Clarinet)

or something.... (personally, I prefer "Woodwind", but that's just me)

2) I would probably split it by each tune or Act.. Unless there will be multiple songs on one page.... Although, I don't see an issue with using a single, "master" file. Would make maintaining style and formatting across parts/songs.

1) Parts and score should indicate what doublings are needed. Call them: Reed 1 (Flute, Alto Sax, Clarinet) or something.... (personally, I prefer "Woodwind", but that's just me) 2) I would probably split it by each tune or Act.. Unless there will be multiple songs on one page.... Although, I don't see an issue with using a single, "master" file. Would make maintaining style and formatting across parts/songs.

You are absolutely correct. "Woodwind" would be better than "Reed." I kept the "Reed" as sort of homage to Bernstein. http://www.westsides...act/faq.html#12

However, your suggestion gives it more clarity.

Any more advice anyone?

Just for those who don't know, the division of the winds into "Reed" players comes from the old big band Saxophone sections where you'd have five saxes (AATTBar) double on a plethora of other instruments.

You have an odd case here Chad where you have stand-alone Flute parts and then doubling reed parts. For the life of me I've never seen this in a musical score before, but I'm sure its been tried. Its just a little weird, that's all. Having six reed players is also unusual but if you have the players, might as well use em, eh? I would, however, highly recommend making Reed VI a higher number because it would be very disorienting to the conductor to see the oboe below baritone sax.

Flutes 1&2

Reed 1: Flute, Alto Sax, Clarinet

Reed 2: Alto Sax, Clarinet

Reed 3: Tenor Sax (Solo), Bass Clarinet

Reed 4: Alto Sax, Tenor Sax (Solo)

Reed 5: Alto Sax, Baritone Sax

Reed 6: Tenor Sax, Oboe

Question 1) Would you advise having the score read," reed 1,2,3..." or just have the score (on the margins) show the instruments

I'd do this:

It leaves no ambiguity. Naturally, change the Reed instrument to the one currently played.

Question 2) This is 75 minutes worth of music. Should I make this several files or one/two large Finale files.

I don't know how Finale handles large files that well. For Sibelius I always keep everything in one big file unless there's a need to take out individual parts, i.e. if they could be played separately away from the whole. In Sibelius I like one big file, though, because formatting can be far more consistent, and one small global change can be applied everywhere all at once rather than having to change each individual file.

Tokke,

Thanks man. This is wierd, VERY wierd. With your advice, I was thinking about listingFLutes 1&@ as Reed I&II and maybe shift Oboe to Reed III?

Chad

If the Flute players don't double then it gets awkward. Could you streamline the number of players required at all? It seems like there's a lot of redundancies. But I don't know the score so I can't know.

Or you could have

Flute 1

Flute 2 (or Flute 1, 2 if you're able to put the parts on the same staff)

Alto Sax. 1 (Flute, Clarinet)

Alto Sax. 2 (Clarinet)

Tenor Sax. 1 (Oboe)

Tenor Sax. 2 (Alto Sax.) [this could be Alto Sax. 3 instead if alto is used more frequently]

Tenor Sax. 3 (Bass Clarinet)

Baritone Sax. (Alto Sax.)

Just an idea, especially if you're thinking of the piece like a big band chart, but the score order is really going to depend on how frequently a player is on a specific instrument and on your voicings.

Orpheus, I think you're on to something. Similar to what Tokke said, the proper score order is important. I was concerned about "how do I make this darn parts." This is a situation where hand is a little easier. So what I'm leaning towards is doing the score order, and just label where the doublings are like you posted.

I'll do this (tentatively)

I made some changes after my original score!

Tokke,

I took your advice and did not separate them awkwardly. I kept them in score order but notated on the score which person is whom (for librarian-sake)

Thanks!

Chad "Sir Wick" Hughes