[SMS] Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap - "The Monster's Lair" by LeviR.star

[Zeta]

Submission Information:
Series: Other
Game: Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Console: Sega Master System
Title: The Monster's Lair
Instrumentation Solo Piano
Arranger: LeviR.star

[LeviR.star]

Looks like I'll be the first to submit a Sega Master System-exclusive sheet to the site! So why not start with one of the best:

(Ignore the crappy US box art, this game is a gem)

Though I've only been familiar with this game for a little over a year, "The Monster's Lair" has since become one of my favorite pieces of VGM ever, and I absolutely had to arrange it. Here's a couple of things I want to draw attention to:

- there are several spots where I think the two hands ought to be articulated differently, but at the moment, slurring the RH against the staccato'd LH only looks right to me in m. 9 & 10. Thoughts on this?
- the high notes in m. 21, 22, 25 and 26 are hard to play at the same time as the melody, so I've kept them sustained where I thought was most appropriate. Do you think I can include the beat 4 re-strikes while the melody sustains?

[Bloop]

- there are several spots where I think the two hands ought to be articulated differently, but at the moment, slurring the RH against the staccato'd LH only looks right to me in m. 9 & 10. Thoughts on this?

I think it looks fine as you have it now, it's pretty clear the R.H. isn't played staccato throughout.

- the high notes in m. 21, 22, 25 and 26 are hard to play at the same time as the melody, so I've kept them sustained where I thought was most appropriate. Do you think I can include the beat 4 re-strikes while the melody sustains?

Just spitballing some thoughts:
With some weird distrubution between the hands, it's possible for the (very) big-handed to play almost all of these high notes, including the ones you left out (except for only m25 beat 3).
Keeping it in the R.H. though, it doesn't seem feasibly possible to include the ones on beat 4 while sustaining the melody without a pedal. Using a pedal will probably not sound great either because of the L.H. run on beat 4. What I'd maybe do is something I've only very recently started doing in some of my sheets, which is to use small notes to indicate a voice that isn't comfortably playable, and leave it up to the player if they wanna highlight it in some way. I personally probably would leave it out while playing, because it's a bit finnicky to play comfortably, and it doesn't add all that much to the overall arrangement rhythmically or harmonically.

[LeviR.star]

I think it looks fine as you have it now, it's pretty clear the R.H. isn't played staccato throughout.

Gotcha. I gave it another look-over and decided that I shouldn't need the slurs in m. 9-10, so I'm removing them.

What I'd maybe do is something I've only very recently started doing in some of my sheets, which is to use small notes to indicate a voice that isn't comfortably playable, and leave it up to the player if they wanna highlight it in some way.

That's funny you should say that, because I've been doing that with some of my other sheets too, and initially planned to do so for these problem notes. I'd be more than happy to go that route if you approve.

Files are updated, let me know what you think.

EDIT: Updated files again with Maestro music font

[Bloop]

You could also shrink the other notes that are still technically playable if you want, so it's easier for the player to see that they can leave those out as well if they so wish. Either way, I'll approve!

[LeviR.star]

You could also shrink the other notes that are still technically playable if you want, so it's easier for the player to see that they can leave those out as well if they so wish.

I think I see what you're onto; I imagine there are some performers who would prefer that, in the likely scenario that they can't hit all of those high notes, they would rather omit them entirely. That makes more sense that what I had before, consider it done.

[Latios212]

I think I see what you're onto; I imagine there are some performers who would prefer that, in the likely scenario that they can't hit all of those high notes, they would rather omit them entirely. That makes more sense that what I had before, consider it done.

Yeah, that's probably what I would do, looking at this sheet. It's easy enough to omit that layer entirely, so no qualms from me.

Everything looks good here, I just have one suggestion to consider! How about in m. 9-10 LH, instead of beats 3.5-4.5 as they are now, lowering the 16th notes on beat 4 to that range? I think it'd be cool to keep those little flourishes and they fit nicely into the range of the left hand part.

[LeviR.star]

I just have one suggestion to consider! How about in m. 9-10 LH, instead of beats 3.5-4.5 as they are now, lowering the 16th notes on beat 4 to that range? I think it'd be cool to keep those little flourishes and they fit nicely into the range of the left hand part.

Hey, that's a great idea! Preserving those little flourishes is vital, I wish I had thought of that.

Files are updated, thank you Latios!

[Latios212]

Sweet, looks good to me. Accepting time!

[Zeta]

This submission has been accepted by Latios212.

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