Sammy On Parade, orchestral score by Bernard Shaeff...work in progress!

[Trapdoor2]

I haven't had much time to work on this but today I got page 1 entered into Musescore. I've done orchestral scores for the more usual sets of instruments (Piccolo, Banjeaurine, 1st & 2nd Banjos, Cello Banjo) but that's it. This thing has 13 instruments...and I had to do some detective work to figure out where each sits pitchwise.

Essentially, I've used the standard banjo as the "basis" and worked from there. A standard banjo's bass note is C3 (gCGBD). Therefore, a Piccolo Banjo should be C4 (an octave higher) and Bass C2 (an octave lower than standard). The Banjeaurine's bass note is F3 (cFCEG) and therefore the Piccolo Banjeaurine's should be F4.

Same for the Bass and Contrabass (except lower and lower). I've used C2 for the Bass and C1 for the Contrabass. The Banjolins I've treated as mandolins with their Bass at G3. The Banjola, I've treated as a Mandola with the Bass at C3 (same for the Tenor Banjo). Sheaff has written both as transposing, much like the Banjeaurines.

So, here's the Intro and a few bars into the March (only about 20sec total). It actually doesn't sound too bad!

[Jody Stecher]

That's sounding good to me!  The images I got were probably not intended. The orchestra is on stage in a theatre before a full house. Everything goes well until the mighty tremolo which is so enormously tremulous that the power goes out. The musicians can't see their scores and stop playing.

[Trapdoor2]

LOL.

I used Shaeff's dynamic markings but the plectrum and mando trem overwhelms even at p. Once I get done, I'll go in and rebalance for the final mp3.

[Trapdoor2]

OK, here's the A part. This is 38 measures X 13 instruments = 494! No wonder orchestral composers have a rep as lunatic hermits!

Towards the end of the A part, the Bass hits two G1 notes which means it may have been a "true" Bass, tuned EADG. I've fixed that. The Contrabass never goes below C1, so I'm still clueless on that.

Sadly, there are only 54 measures in this sheet music. I think that will only cover the A and B parts of the tune. The Banjo Solo plays A-B-A-C-D-C-A-B-A-Coda, but there isn't a C or D part in Sheaff's score.

[Jody Stecher]

Yikes, the forte tremolo sounds like a baritone dentist drill. I like it anyway.

[Trapdoor2]

Yah. This is why we have conductors...to interpret composer's ideas, which sound good in their heads.

The computer does additive volume, so the levels just go up and up as instruments are added. Trem seems to have its own dynamic value that is a couple steps above normal. I've got two more pages to go and then I can pay attention to overall dynamics.

[Richard William Ineson]

Great stuff, a very vigorous tremelo which goes well with all the other things happening around it. Sheaff was a knowledgeable musician and all of his compositions and arrangements show a lot of originality. I look forward to hearing more. Thank you for your time and effort.

Trapdoor2 said:

OK, here's the A part. This is 38 measures X 13 instruments = 494! No wonder orchestral composers have a rep as lunatic hermits!

Towards the end of the A part, the Bass hits two G1 notes which means it may have been a "true" Bass, tuned EADG. I've fixed that. The Contrabass never goes below C1, so I'm still clueless on that.

Sadly, there are only 54 measures in this sheet music. I think that will only cover the A and B parts of the tune. The Banjo Solo plays A-B-A-C-D-C-A-B-A-Coda, but there isn't a C or D part in Sheaff's score.