Question about orchestrators — Page 2

Where did you read a holograph is a lead sheet? This is not LoC terminology: the term holograph means it's in the composer's hand as opposed to an autograph score, which is in another hand. I haven't seen the "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" score, although I have seen the complete "Big Brother" ballet hlograph, which is a full piano score, and the sketch for "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" may not be complete. On the other side of the coin, the big theme is used twice and may be notated in shorthand for its second appearance. Rodgers' sketch may not be laid out neatly as a printed or engraved copy. Isn't the story in Rodgers' bio about his playing the sketch for Balanchine and offering to adjust it; Balanchine said it was fine as it was.

I can only testify beyond that that every Rodgers holograph is a piano score and that in some cases, things that I thought were fills by the orchestrator were actually written by Rodgers in his original score.

Here's the truth, as unpleasant as it may be for those who want everything tidy and explained: There's NEVER any way to be sure who wrote what on a Broadway show, especially as regards the score. That favorite section of yours could be by the composer...or by the the dance arranger, rehearsal pianist, orchestrator, or perhaps the performer hummed it to the director, who sang it to the copyist. And frankly, even the composers themselves aren't always reliable sources for who wrote what.

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I've been meaning for years to visit the Library of Congress and peruse theater and film scores, particularly the work of Alex North. Can one view such material and how does one go about arranging it?





Bree Daniels
New York City

Alex North rocked.