The JMV Art Preservation Foundation Model
Based upon the experiences of noted restorationist Larry Moore, the Foundation has formulated a model that has become the basis for all of its restoration, reconstruction and recording projects (the 3 R’s):
- Select a major show that has been neglected over the years and needs restoration and recording
- Find all evidence of music written for the show, whether used on opening night or not
- Assess completeness of the existing musical notation
- List all references to music in the programs, scripts or other historical source material (e.g., listing of rental materials)
- List all existing and missing music
- List all music that will need to be reconstructed
- Reconstruct missing music, based on style of original composer and orchestrator, to best of our ability
- Restore scores for all instruments believed to have been in the original orchestrations (based on history of known orchestrations or notes)
- Based upon total number of instruments in the pit, divide the total into numbers of instruments for each musical notation (e.g., if 4 violin parts are noted in the conductor’s score, determine the number of 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th violins that were in the pit orchestra)
- Based upon existing documentation and notes, determine the type of instrument most likely used (e.g., if muffled drum is indicated, determine the type of muffling that might have been used)
- From historical information and restoration experience(s), try to determine the style and tempo of composer/orchestrator for the show
- Balance musical intent of style and tempo against limitations of various instruments
- Restore or reconstruct all music that was composed for the show
- Record all music that was composed for the show