Songs with Multiple Verses

[Robert Dietrich]

Is it necessary to identify verses and choruses in vocal songs when there are no corresponding identifiers in print? If so, is it also necessary to identify them in a piano accompaniment? Or is it sufficient to insert measure numbers into the vocal part without specifically identifying them as Verse, Chorus, Bridge, etc.?

[Kathleen]

Hi Robert,

Please forgive the tardiness of this reply.

Your answer depends on the individual piece. For a through-composed piece - one with no repeats, I think measure numbers would suffice if the verses are not specifically labeled as such.

However, if you are transcribing the music for only the first verse of a strophic song and then brailling only the text for the remaining verses, you must list verse numbers, as seen in example 35.7-1 in the MBC2015.

If the refrain is obvious and a part of the repeated music that is not brailled in full the second/third time around, you would label it as such, even if the label is not shown in print. (Ex. 35.7.2-1)

Those added labels help the reader orient themselves when there are repeated portions of music that we are not transcribing in full.

Kathleen

 

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