TromboneChat

I ran across this interesting tempo marking yesterday.

On this one I didn't look closely enough and read that end-of-staff (m.69-70) as another 2-bar repeat instead of a 2-bar compressed rest.

It's also kind of unusual to specify measure numbers in a repeat like that. But, the reason here is that some parts don't have the repeat and just have measures.

Presumably the band leader pulls this chart when they want the musicians to leave?

Kinda get the ol' brain cells some extra blood circulation, don't they? Or maybe constrict the blood vessels in the brain enough to generate a headache instead....

Check the measure before rehearsal number 34

JohnL wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 10:33 pm Check the measure before rehearsal number 34

selection (1).jpg

Epic.

That copyist got excited about those quarter notes!

BTW: that's not from some obscure piece; it's the third trombone part of the Kalmus edition of Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite.

Stuff like that you can kind laugh along with; it's an honest error - no one decided that it would be a good idea to put seven beats and in a 6/4 measure. What chaps my hide is when someone made a conscious decision to do something that just doesn't make sense, like putting a forte dynamic on parts playing behind a solo. Sure, a good musician figures out really quickly that they need to drop down under the solo, but wouldn't it be better if the part was just marked mezzo piano to start with?

This is my favourite:



I posted it on my Facebook feed and the comments were predictably along the lines of "which plonker wrote that" until they found out it was Steve Gray and all was forgiven

Extra bonus points for the note at the very bottom of the page turning out to be a hat with a dot. Not a pause. Guess who found out the hard way whilst sightreading it on the gig?

Here's a typical example from the handbell world. Yes, this is in 3/4 . Yes, there are 3 beats in measure 28.

Nearly every piece has some place where I have to explain the intent to the ringers.

AndrewMeronek wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2026 2:21 pm I ran across this interesting tempo marking yesterday.

20260617_195632.jpg

The community jazz group that I'm in had a song marked at 29 measures per minute that we played this spring. I'm not a pro, but in 25 years of school plus amateur playing it was the first time I had seen a tempo notated like that.

mgladdish wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2026 4:22 am Steve Gray

I am not familiar.

timothy42b wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2026 10:36 am Here's a typical example from the handbell world. Yes, this is in 3/4 . Yes, there are 3 beats in measure 28.

Alas, the Forum doesn't have a "use a spectacle to look closely at something with great suspicion" emoji.

AndrewMeronek wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2026 2:32 pm

mgladdish wrote: Mon Jun 22, 2026 4:22 am Steve Gray

I am not familiar.

One of the very best big band arrangers there’s been. His charts just scream quality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Gray_(musician)

Tempo Di "I'M RICK JAMES, B****!!!!!!!!"

I ran into another doozy today.

For yous all's entertainment. Or headaches.
3 before rehearsal I and I are annoying enough, but that last bar - I have no idea how someone "corrected" a 5-beat final measure in 4/4 time to 4 1/2 beats . . .

The famous 16/12 bar in the trumpet part for Colin Broom's 'Beer Party' – actually makes perfect sense in context.