I wanted to create title pages for the conductor score and orchestral parts in Sibelius and other music notation programs. No matter what notation program I used, none could make a decent title page. While the conductor’s score requires a title page, it’s optional for the instrument parts.
Sibelius and the other music notation programs I’ve used in the past allow you to create a blank page to write text and insert images. However, the process feels delicate; you can’t guarantee uniformity or success. The pages I’ve created this way have always seemed less than professional. There may be a better way to create title pages in these programs; if so, I’m unaware. Now I use a different method, and it works wonderfully.
How do I make title pages for my conductor score and orchestral parts? It’s easy when using my word processing program. I create a custom page size, the exact size of the conductor score.
Most publishers have specific information they want to see on the front cover of their published scores. I based my opening title section on the research I’ve done online and using the MOLA (Major Orchestral Library Association) guidelines for orchestral score preparation.
All of my conductor scores open with three pages.
- The main title page consists of the composition’s title, the composer’s name, the publishing company information, all rights reserved and copyright information. The back of the page contains a notice “this page is meant to be blank” and a short statement from the record label about where to find the recording.
- Page two consists of the instrumentation list and the piece’s duration. The back of the page consists of the performance notes.
- Page three consists of a section for the program notes and an area for the author’s notes. The back of the page consists of a staging diagram. (With this setup, the score follows the MOLA guidelines of the first page of the composition being on the right-hand side when the score is open).
- The front of the back cover of the conductor score contains a notice from the record label where to find a recording of the piece.
- The backside of the back cover of the conductor score displays my website information, the ISMN number, the publisher information, and the copyright notice naming the performing rights organization and the all rights reserved notice.
This new process is much more stable since everything is in a word processing program, everything is much easier to maneuver, and you can achieve the look and results you want. Thank you for reading; I’m just a music teacher having fun; catch ya on the next one.