Prairie Dawg Press edition – our critical analysis

Combined Carols for String Orchestra

– critique of edition by Prairie Dawg Press (2012), made in comparison with a photocopy of the MS score.

In general, it is suggested that more differentiation be made between slurs and ties – slurs could have higher arcs and ties could be as is or even flatter.

# (measure) /# (beat) / part

Page 2

1. 17/vc. – mp dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
2. 19/vln. 2 & cb. – crescendo markings not in MS – should have brackets.
3. 20/cb. – mf dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
4. Just FYI – 23/3/vc. – 24/4/vc. – written in treble clef in MS.

Page 3

5. 30/vln. 2 – quarter notes not marked staccato in MS – should have brackets.
6. 33-34/cb. – crescendo not in MS – should have brackets.
7. 35/vln. 2 – f dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.

Page 4

8. 39-40/vla. – the slur goes through second half note E in MS.
9. Just FYI – 40/3/vc. – 44/4/vc. – written in treble clef in MS.

Page 6

10. 75/vln. 2 & vla. – sempre pp dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.

Page 7

11. 83/vla. – più pp dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
12. 84/vla. – first eighth note not beamed to eighth notes on beat 4 in MS – this is clearer.
13. 85/vla. – time signature change is common time (C) in MS.
14. 87/vln. 2 – poco cresc. is not in MS – should have brackets.
15. 87/4/vla. – quarter note should also have staccato marking like in MS.
16. 92/cb. – decrescendo marking not in MS – should have brackets.
17. 93/vln. 2 & cb. – pp dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.

Page 8

18. 99/vln. 2 – should have common time (C) change like in MS.
19. 100/vln. 1 – time signature change is common time (C) in MS.
20. 104/1-2/vla. – decrescendo marking in MS.
21. 104/cb. – sempre pizz in MS.
22. 106/vln. 2 – quarter notes not marked staccato in MS – should have brackets.
23. 107/vln. 2 – cresc. marking not in MS – should have brackets.

Page 9

24. 108-110/vc. – quarter notes not marked staccato in MS – should have brackets.
25. 110/vln. 2 – quarter notes not marked staccato in MS – should have brackets.
26. 111/4/vln. 2 – quarter note not marked staccato in MS – should have brackets.
27. 111/cb. – molto cresc. marking not in MS – should have brackets.
28. 112-113/cb. – crescendo marking not in MS – should have brackets.
29. 114/vln. 1 – lower voice rests not in MS and not necessary.
30. 114/3/vln. 2 – courtesy natural sign on note B in MS.
31. 118/3/vc. – p dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
32. 119/1/vln. 1 & vc. – sharp signs overlap preceding bar line.

Page 10

33. 122/vc. & cb. – f dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
34. 128/3/vla. – eighth note A is not accented in MS – should have brackets.
35. Just FYI – 134/vla. – written in alto clef in MS.
36. Just FYI – 135/vla. – written in alto clef an octave lower with 8va and changes to treble clef before following measure in MS.
37. Just FYI – 138/2/vc. – written in bass clef and changes to treble clef on beat 3 in MS.
38. 140/vln. 1 – f dynamic in MS.

Page 12

39. 149/vc. – cresc. not in MS – should have brackets.
40. 149/cb. – mf dynamic not in MS – should have brackets.
41. 152/vc. – # sign not necessary.

Page 13

42. 161/3/vln. 1 – p dynamic in MS.
43. 163/vln. 2 – decrescendo in MS.

Page 14

44. 173-173/vln. 2 – passage is crossed-out in MS – should be in brackets or parentheses.
45. 184/vc. – half note F and half note E in upper voice above whole note A in MS; Slur begins on half note F and continues into following measure; whole note A is tied to following measure.
46. 185/1/vc. – tied half note A in lower voice followed by half rest in MS.

Page 15

47. 186/vln. 1 & vla. – time signature change is cut time (¢) in MS.
48. 190-191/vln. 2 – no time signature change in MS – still in ¾ time and therefore dotted half note B tied to dotted half note B in following measure instead of whole note B tied to dotted half note B in 1/1 time.
49. 193/vln. 2 – since no time signature change occurred in m. 190 in MS, the ¾ time signature change is not in MS and not necessary.
50. 194-195/vln. 2 – no time signature change in MS – still in ¾ time and therefore doted half note D tied to dotted half note D in the following measure instead of whole note D tied to whole note D in 1/1 time.
51. 194/1/vla. – staccato marking not in MS – should have brackets.
52. 197/vln. 2 – since no time signature change occurred in m. 194, the ¾ time signature change is not in MS and not necessary.
53. 197/1/vln. 2 – pp dynamic in MS.

Page 16

54. 198-199/vln. 2 – no time signature change in MS – still in ¾ time and therefore dotted half note E tied to dotted half note E in following measure instead of whole note E tied to whole note E in 1/1 time.
55. 202/vln. 2 – time signature change is cut time (¢) in MS.
56. 206/vln. 2 – time signature change is ¾ time in MS and therefore dotted half note D tied to quarter note D in following measure instead of whole note D tied to quarter note D in 1/1 time.
57. 207/vln. 2 – since time signature change of ¾ occurred in previous measure, this ¾ time signature change is not in MS, redundant and unnecessary.
58. 207/vln. 2 – tenuto marking not in MS – should have brackets.
59. 208-211/vln. 2 – no time signature change in MS – still in ¾ time and therefore dotted half note B tied to dotted half note B and so forth until final dotted half note B in m. 211 instead of whole notes tied in 1/1 time.