MOLA Guidelines for Music Preparation

3 MOLA Guidelines for Music Preparation Foreword These guidelines for the preparation of music scores and parts are the result of many hours of discussion regarding the creation and layout of performance material that has come through our libraries. We realize that each music publisher has its own set of guidelines for music engraving. For new or self-published composers or arrangers, we would like to express our thoughts regarding the preparation of performance materials. Using notation so!ware music publishers and professional composers and arrangers are creating scores and parts that are as functional and beautiful as traditionally engraved music. " .pdf (portable document format) is the suggested final file format as it is independent of application so!ware, hardware, and operating system. "ll ma%or notation so!ware has the option to save a file in this format. "s digital storage and distribution of music data files becomes more common, there is the danger that the librarian will be obliged to assume the role of music publisher, expected to print, duplicate, and bind all of the sheet music. &ot all libraries have the facilities, sta', or time to accommodate these pro%ects, and while librarians can advise on the format and layout of printed music, they should not be expected to act as a surrogate publisher. The ma%ority of printed music is now produced using one of the established music notation so!ware programs. (ome of the guidelines that follow may well be implemented in such programs but the so!ware user, as well as anyone producing material by hand, will still find them beneficial. 1 The Performance Material Full Score At the beginning of the full score, the full name of each instrument should be listed to the lef of the corresponding staff/staves. (Example 1). n subse!uent pages, abbreviations of the instrument names should be used. (Example 2). All instructions for tempi, dynamics, techni!ue, and expression should be in a conventional language such as English, $talian, %erman, or &rench. All tempo indications should appear above the top staff and above the first violin line (or similarl# positioned staff in the absence of strings) on each score page. All full scores should include measure numbers, beginning ane' 'ith each movement. (lacement of measure numbers should be the same throughout the 'ork. $f ever# measure is to be numbered it should be placed below the s#stem. Ofen *ust the first measure of each system is numbered, placed in the upper lef corner and sometimes additionall#, as 'ith tempo indications, on a specific line of the grand staff, such as above the first violins. $deall#, rehearsal letters should be used in addition to measure numbers, their position corresponding to landmarks in the music. (ercussion instruments should be notated on the staff from high to low, according to their relative pitch. (itched percussion staves should appear adjacent to one another and can be positioned either above or below unpitched percussion. +ometimes it may be more appropriate to notate the percussion lines by player to reflect how the instruments are to be distributed. Whichever system is chosen, these positions must be maintained consistently throughout the work. The vertical order of instrument staves 'ithin a score has evolved over man# years. While it is possible to find many exceptions, the generall# accepted layout is as follows. • Woodwind • Brass • Timpani/Percussion/Harp/Keyboard instruments • Vocal • Strin s An# instrument that does not easil# fit in the layout above 'ill usuall# be placed in the third group. Within these broad categories, instruments should be verticall# ordered, for the most part, by sounding pitch high to low. (Example 1). Most music notation sof'are should default to this layout. ! Parts $t is strongl# advised that parts are computer-engraved and should not include an# handwritten additions. (arts for transposing instruments must be 'ritten in the transposed )e#. 1lefs and )e# signatures must appear at the beginning of each line. 1are should be taken 'ith the use of the abbreviations )va and )va basso, avoiding their use if possible. When a clef, )e# signature, or time signature changes at the beginning of a line, a cautionar# 'arning should be included at the end of the previous line. (Example 3) As in the full score, measure numbers should appear at the beginning of each line. 3umbering each measure should be avoided, except in the case of multi-measure rests, where measure number ranges are helpful (e.g., 4"561157). -'o further exceptions to this convention occur in &ilm and Music Theatre compositions 'here measures are traditionall# individuall# numbered in both score and parts, although once again number ranges are used for multi0measure rests. The rehearsal numbers or letters and measure numbers in the parts must match the score. 8ogical cues are expected during long periods of rest, the cues being transposed to the reading )e# of the instrument. 1ues must be audible and obvious to the musician reading the part. -empo and meter changes must be indicated on all parts, even during periods of extended rest. (Example 9) The use of 4-acet until. .7 is not acceptable unless the player takes no further part until either the completion of the 'ork or an intermission at the end of an act. $f at all possible, instrument doubling (one player covering t'o instruments) should not be included in a principal part. $n an# doubling part, clear indications of 'hen to change followed by a statement of 'hich instrument is being played at the next entry should be included. (Example 5) $f an# parts are reproduced 'ith a popular transposition (for example, ;orn in E-flat transposed for ;orn in &), a part in the original ke# should also be included with the set. Traditionall#, horns, tuned percussion, and timpani use any re!uired accidentals rather than a key signature. A notation )e# printed at the beginning of the percussion part or parts may be helpful to the players if the part is especiall# detailed. The timpani part should not be included in the percussion part and should be printed separatel#. An exception may be in the instance of chamber music, 'here the timpani plays a small role or is explicitly re!uired to double on one or more percussion instruments. ;arp pedaling should be lef to the performer and not printed. The number of players needed for )eyboard parts should be clearly specified. +tring bowings should onl# be printed if the composition is intended for educational use, or if the composer/arranger re!uires a specific effect and is confident of its method of execution. 3 Cover and Front Matter Full Score Although each music publisher 'ill have its own publication guidelines and style re!uirements, there is some information that is important to see on the cover of an# score. The title of the 'ork and the name of the composer should be printed prominentl# on the cover and spine of the score. The full title of the 'ork should be printed as it 'ould appear in a formal concert program, to include appropriate capitali<ation and diacritical markings. $f applicable, the name of the arranger or editor should appear, but need not be as prominent as the title and composer. Additionall#, the name and address of the publisher should be easil# located. $t is helpful to add a catalog number, print date, or revision date 'hen applicable. There should be a page or pages at the beginning of the 'ork to provide basic information about the composition along 'ith movement titles in their proper order. There should be an approximate duration given for each movement and a total duration for the 'ork. This should also include a list of the full instrumentation. $f the composition is in multiple sections, movements or acts, a contents list 'ith page numbers should also be included. $dentify use of an# optional instruments, doublings, )e#s of all transposing instruments, and a list of all percussion instruments (including re!uired note ranges). An indication of how many percussionists will be re!uired is helpful, though an orchestra may or may not adhere to that number. An# specific e!uipment, s#nthesi<er settings, or other electronic instrument re!uirements should be noted here. These instructions should be as detailed and specific as possible. An# special instructions for 4prepared instruments,7 other uncommon instruments, and extended techni!ues should also be indicated here. An# specific staging instructions should also be mentioned on this page or a subse!uent page. Detailed diagrams are helpful to illustrate a particularl# complex stage set-up. $f there are deviations from standard musical notation, an explanation should appear following the instrumentation page. Parts 1over pages may be used on parts but are onl# essential 'hen pagination re!uires the music to begin on page t'o in order to accommodate page turns, or 'hen there are additional instructions for the player to follo'. At minimum, the front of each part must include the title, composer, and instrument name (and instrument )e# 'here applicable). $f multiple instruments are used, all should be indicated on the front page, in addition to an# specific e!uipment, s#nthesi<er settings, or other electronic instrument re!uirements. +pecific instructions for 4prepared instruments,7 other uncommon instruments, and extended techni!ues should also be indicated here. While not necessaril# re!uired, publication information can be included here. " Formatting (arts and scores should be produced double-sided, 'ith music on both sides of the page. >ight-hand pages must be odd-numbered in the upper right corner and lef-hand pages must be even-numbered in the upper lef corner of the page.

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