[NES] Mega Man 2 - "Air Man Stage" (Replacement) by LeviR.star

[Zeta]

Submission Information:
Series: Mega Man
Game: Mega Man 2
Console: Nintendo Entertainment System
Title: Air Man Stage
Instrumentation Solo Piano
Arranger: LeviR.star


Replacement Information:
Links to Existing Sheet: MUS | MIDI | PDF
Replacement Type: Challenge (new arranger)

[LeviR.star]

Title of the sheet should be "Air Man Stage".

[LeviR.star]

I'd like to give this thread a bump.

[Radiak488417]

Appreciate the Matsumae credit on this one haha. I vaguely remembered hearing she worked on this song but didn't know the full story until looking it up now, very cute and funny anecdote (for those curious, here's the context).

-I'm not entirely sure what your intent is with the X notes, were you meaning to imply that they're optional or that they should be percussion? I get that they're toms made with the triangle channel, but I don't think the phrase "triangle tom" adds much useful information to a pianist, and could be a bit confusing. Maybe just "X notes optional" if that's what you were going for?

-m20 RH beat 1: The grace note here sounds more like a 16th on the downbeat to me, but it's pretty subjective.

-Even though it reduces the number of accidentals, the sharp in m20 threw me for a loop when I was sightreading it; I think it could potentially be more intuitive to spell this part with flats and naturals instead. Admittedly this is not my area of expertise, so I'm curious what others' opinions on this would be.

-The exact same tom fills from m29 & m33 happen in m27 and m31, I'd include them there too for consistency's sake.

-Tempo could be moved down a bit.

[LeviR.star]

-Appreciate the Matsumae credit on this one haha. I vaguely remembered hearing she worked on this song but didn't know the full story until looking it up now, very cute and funny anecdote (for those curious, here's the context).
-I'm not entirely sure what your intent is with the X notes, were you meaning to imply that they're optional or that they should be percussion? I get that they're toms made with the triangle channel, but I don't think the phrase "triangle tom" adds much useful information to a pianist, and could be a bit confusing. Maybe just "X notes optional" if that's what you were going for?
-m20 RH beat 1: The grace note here sounds more like a 16th on the downbeat to me, but it's pretty subjective.
-Even though it reduces the number of accidentals, the sharp in m20 threw me for a loop when I was sightreading it; I think it could potentially be more intuitive to spell this part with flats and naturals instead. Admittedly this is not my area of expertise, so I'm curious what others' opinions on this would be.
-The exact same tom fills from m29 & m33 happen in m27 and m31, I'd include them there too for consistency's sake.
-Tempo could be moved down a bit.

- thanks, I knew I had to include her because not only is that a cute little fun fact, the solo part is a substantial part of the song and in no way a small contribution
- I've used the footnote "triangle tom" in my chiptune Mega Man sheets for some time now. These are written in a way that they can be played with "substitute" pitches, or left out if the performer would rather represent them by stomping their feet or something. Leaving them out entirely would make the bass line feel empty, so that's why I do it this way
- at this tempo it hardly makes a difference, so I'm okay with writing it as a 16th instead of a grace note
- I know a majority of the accidentals in this piece are flats, double flats and naturals, but writing that part without the sharp leaves a lot of clutter that I feel the performer could do without. Just my opinion, of course
- I don't remember my thought process when leaving those out but I'll restore them
- personally, I like where it is

Thanks for the feedback, Radiak! Files are updated.

[Radiak488417]

- I've used the footnote "triangle tom" in my chiptune Mega Man sheets for some time now. These are written in a way that they can be played with "substitute" pitches, or left out if the performer would rather represent them by stomping their feet or something. Leaving them out entirely would make the bass line feel empty, so that's why I do it this way

Ah I didn't realize you'd been using that footnote already. To me it still doesn't really convey what your stated intent with the X noteheads is, it just describes a timbral quality of the original track (which the performer may not have even heard). That being said it's probably worth keeping it consistent with all your other sheets, this is just my personal opinion.

[Latios212]

Hello!... long time no see, submissions board. I finally have a bit of spare time tonight.

Just two things to mention:
- Ending the ascent on the Bn in m. 26 doesn't... quite feel right to me. It doesn't seem to stay on it as long as writing it would imply. It's hard to say since it's a slide, but how would you feel about writing it as a grace note to a Bb half note? (Either way, I think Cb makes more sense with a root of Ab here.)
- How about a 2 page layout? This piece is fast and most systems are pretty stretched at 3 measures each.
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[LeviR.star]

To me it still doesn't really convey what your stated intent with the X noteheads is, it just describes a timbral quality of the original track (which the performer may not have even heard).

Hmm, I would sure hope the performer was familiar with the original before seeking out my arrangement.

Hello!... long time no see, submissions board.

Yes, it's been awfully quiet around here since July, hasn't it?

- Ending the ascent on the Bn in m. 26 doesn't... quite feel right to me. It doesn't seem to stay on it as long as writing it would imply. It's hard to say since it's a slide, but how would you feel about writing it as a grace note to a Bb half note? (Either way, I think Cb makes more sense with a root of Ab here.)

Sure, I'll add a grace note and change the B-natural to a B-flat. Good call.

- How about a 2 page layout? This piece is fast and most systems are pretty stretched at 3 measures each.
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The squished m. 20 didn't sit well with me at first, but now I see that this orientation is a much more efficient use of space overall.

^^ These two points have been updated. Thank you, Latios.

[Latios212]

I shall leave my approval then~

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[LeviR.star]

I shall leave my approval then~

Thank you, Latios. Just want to leave this reminder here for the second updater:

Title of the sheet should be "Air Man Stage".

[Radiak488417]

I know a majority of the accidentals in this piece are flats, double flats and naturals, but writing that part without the sharp leaves a lot of clutter that I feel the performer could do without. Just my opinion, of course

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree here, I think in a chromatic passage like this it's important to spell the diatonic notes normally so that the nondiatonic notes are clear to the performer. Using a sharp here obscures that the enclosed An is outside the key signature, and is especially confusing given that G# is enharmonic to a diatonic note (Ab) that you've already used earlier in the measure as part of the same motion (Ab to An). Plus, going from G# to Fn in the next measure creates an awkward augmented second interval. I'd highly advise using flats here for all these reasons.

Hmm, I would sure hope the performer was familiar with the original before seeking out my arrangement.

You'd be surprised, what with Twitch sightreaders and people just browsing random sheets. Ideally all of our sheets would be legible and performable for anyone even if they've never played a video game in their life, but I'm not going to press it any further haha. I'm fine with keeping it in to maintain consistency with your other sheets.

[LeviR.star]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree here, I think in a chromatic passage like this it's important to spell the diatonic notes normally so that the nondiatonic notes are clear to the performer. Using a sharp here obscures that the enclosed An is outside the key signature, and is especially confusing given that G# is enharmonic to a diatonic note (Ab) that you've already used earlier in the measure as part of the same motion (Ab to An). Plus, going from G# to Fn in the next measure creates an awkward augmented second interval. I'd highly advise using flats here for all these reasons.

Ok, I'll change that pitch to a flat for this measure. Files are updated.

Title of the sheet should be "Air Man Stage".

[Radiak488417]

Nice, with that I will accept! We'll change the sheet title for this and your other sub before they get uploaded to the site.

[Zeta]

This submission has been accepted by Radiak488417.

~Zeta, your friendly NSM-Bot