A few pages from the pen of the eminent composer Marvin Schluger. This is Rhumba for Puppets for solo piano, a series of energetic variations derived from an original dance theme. The piece is marked by a great deal of juxtaposed chromaticism, for example, two measures before rehearsal letter O (C-sharp in lower-middle voice against C-natural bass note), and an even more exemplary, six measures after letter O (E-flat octaves in right hand with E-natural octaves in left hand respectively).
Here we have a copy of the original handwritten manuscript, followed by the final typeset score. This gives an idea of the sort of work that goes into transforming a page of hand copy into an engraved master sheet. Notice, too, that there are a great deal of editorial comments (in red) regarding placement of music within staves, pedal markings, and in some cases total renotation. One benefit of this particular score was the clarity of the penmenship. Of course, handwritten copy is never as pristine as typeset, but it is infinitly easier and faster to work from when it is neat. This may seem obvious, but the state of some scores I receive is virtually illegible. A word of note to composers/songwriters: submitting clean copy saves us both time and money.
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