A while back we had a topic concerning the sunsetting of Finale. I had mentioned there that I decided to switch to Dorico and was just starting to learn this new software. Since then I've written a couple of big band charts using Dorico and am starting to get familiar with it. Although there is a steep learning curve, I've found that there are some features that I like, including what seems to be an easier time getting the score and parts looking good. I think that I'm going to find Dorico to be better for me than Finale was, in spite of how long I used Finale (since 1989 or 1990, if I recall correctly).
The first chart I completed I ended up calling "Sunset Finale" (get it?). Here's a MIDI realization I put together for a demo.
https://wilktone.com/wp-content/uploads ... e-Demo.mp3
The sound library I used is Atomic Big Band Horns, except for the rhythm section and horns. For those I exported Band-in-a-Box audio files using their "Real Instrument" samples. I ran into some glitches working on this one that I never fixed, so some of the playback is a little off, but it's close enough to get the idea.
The Asheville Jazz Orchestra will premiere this chart on Sunday.
I just finished another one. I call this one "It's the Plumber I've Come to Fix the Sink." Here's the demo.
https://wilktone.com/wp-content/uploads ... k-Demo.mp3
The trumpet and trombone solos in it are supposed to be plunger mute solos, but Band-in-a-Box doesn't have plunger soloists (at least not that I've purchased), so I used a DAW (Logic Pro) to EQ those audio files and stuck in a guitar "wa-wa" plugin to approximate what a plunger mute solo would sound like (sort of...). I'm not choosing set lists for the AJO these days, but we'll probably play this one in our February or maybe March show.
Neither tune is particularly cutting edge, I just wanted to write some charts that would fit a niche in the AJO library and give us some new options to play compared to the charts we've been playing lately.
Dave
New Big Band Charts
- Wilktone
- Posts: 506
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:31 pm
Re: New Big Band Charts
Nice songs! I hope everything went well with the premiering.
Thanks for sharing
.
Thanks for sharing

Welcome to visit my web store: https://www.danieleng.com/
Big Engband on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/30Vuft1 ... me3sZi8q-A
Big Engband on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/30Vuft1 ... me3sZi8q-A
-
- Posts: 1235
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:09 pm
- Location: Detroit area
- Contact:
Re: New Big Band Charts
I've been also working on Dorico big band charts lately. Yes, long learning curve.
But will it be better than the other "big" softwares? I think for casual users, no. For people who know that they'll be investing hundreds or thousands of hours of work - yes. A couple of things pop out for me:
- Chord changes are automatically added AND transposed into all parts that are defined in their instrument definition to display chords.
- It's super easy (once I figured out the right hotkeys) to rhythmically transpose lines. Or, at least, transposing within the default rhythmic grid. I don't think that more complex transpositions (in triplets, etc.) would be any easier than with any other software.
- The drumset part does need a bit of attention at the start of a score because the way the Dorico team decided to handle it is VERY different. But - once I get it set up in a way that makes sense to me, it works pretty well.
- It's not "big band" so much (mostly because it's not very common in big band scores, not that it wouldn't be useful) but the score condensation feature can be really nice.
I tend to not focus on the audio mockup stuff except as a convenient tool to idiot check notes and rhythms. None of the musical ensembles I work with currently need mockups. They just read really well, and expect the charts to be correct.
But will it be better than the other "big" softwares? I think for casual users, no. For people who know that they'll be investing hundreds or thousands of hours of work - yes. A couple of things pop out for me:
- Chord changes are automatically added AND transposed into all parts that are defined in their instrument definition to display chords.
- It's super easy (once I figured out the right hotkeys) to rhythmically transpose lines. Or, at least, transposing within the default rhythmic grid. I don't think that more complex transpositions (in triplets, etc.) would be any easier than with any other software.
- The drumset part does need a bit of attention at the start of a score because the way the Dorico team decided to handle it is VERY different. But - once I get it set up in a way that makes sense to me, it works pretty well.
- It's not "big band" so much (mostly because it's not very common in big band scores, not that it wouldn't be useful) but the score condensation feature can be really nice.
I tend to not focus on the audio mockup stuff except as a convenient tool to idiot check notes and rhythms. None of the musical ensembles I work with currently need mockups. They just read really well, and expect the charts to be correct.
“All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians.”
- Thelonious Monk
- Thelonious Monk
- Wilktone
- Posts: 506
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
- Contact:
Re: New Big Band Charts
Thanks! The premier of Sunset Finale went pretty well. The pianist (Michael Jefry Stevens) also had a new chart we played too, so it was a fun night of new music for the band. Next month we'll probably play It's the Plumber.
Yeah, it's probably too expensive anyway for the casual user. I don't know enough about Musescore, but my understanding is that it's a good option for casual users.AndrewMeronek wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 9:51 am But will it be better than the other "big" softwares? I think for casual users, no. For people who know that they'll be investing hundreds or thousands of hours of work - yes.
I've not played around with this yet, but if I need to condense a score I bet this will be a real time saver.AndrewMeronek wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 9:51 am It's not "big band" so much (mostly because it's not very common in big band scores, not that it wouldn't be useful) but the score condensation feature can be really nice.
-
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2018 3:31 pm
Re: New Big Band Charts
Nice to hear all was good and well!
I have too many commissions right now to really have the time to sit down and learn Dorico..... To save time and run in my old, smooth-worn tracks, I still soldier on with Finale - just because it takes so little time to finish a chart.
Once I have the spare time, I just have to get into learning Dorico, since I jumped on the transition discount right away but never have had the time to really do the actual transfer.
Does anyone have any recommendations for - like - a YouTube video or something similar to get started and gradually get more advanced tips and tricks for Dorico?
I have too many commissions right now to really have the time to sit down and learn Dorico..... To save time and run in my old, smooth-worn tracks, I still soldier on with Finale - just because it takes so little time to finish a chart.
Once I have the spare time, I just have to get into learning Dorico, since I jumped on the transition discount right away but never have had the time to really do the actual transfer.
Does anyone have any recommendations for - like - a YouTube video or something similar to get started and gradually get more advanced tips and tricks for Dorico?
Welcome to visit my web store: https://www.danieleng.com/
Big Engband on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/30Vuft1 ... me3sZi8q-A
Big Engband on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/30Vuft1 ... me3sZi8q-A
-
- Posts: 1235
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 6:09 pm
- Location: Detroit area
- Contact:
Re: New Big Band Charts
There's a bunch of beginner Dorico stuff on Youtube. I don't have a particular preference. I would say to also keep an eye on Steinberg's forums:
https://forums.steinberg.net/c/dorico/8
That's a pretty good resource if you run into specific roadblocks that online help stuff don't make clear.
https://forums.steinberg.net/c/dorico/8
That's a pretty good resource if you run into specific roadblocks that online help stuff don't make clear.
“All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians.”
- Thelonious Monk
- Thelonious Monk
-
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:39 am
Re: New Big Band Charts
Here's another great YouTube channel about Dorico (and Cubase):
https://www.youtube.com/@musicchefpro/playlists
https://www.youtube.com/@musicchefpro/playlists
- Wilktone
- Posts: 506
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 5:11 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
- Contact:
Re: New Big Band Charts
My first project with Dorico was a sax quartet commission. I just jumped in and forced myself to complete it in Dorico rather than relying on Finale. The next two projects were the big band charts above. Because those were not commissions, I wasn't under any particular timeline or arranging constraints, other than self imposed. For me, I found that "jumping into the deep end" got me more motivated to learn the new software.
But I think that does mean that there are certain things that I didn't learn how to do more efficiently, so I'm trying to catch up on some tutorials and such. Dorico has their own YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@dorico/videos
Here's one from their channel specifically for working with big band scores that I found useful. I think it's helpful to watch an experienced user input in music to pick up on some of the expert tricks built into the software.
https://www.youtube.com/live/adCMbD85Qt ... Fn-lcy1GEE
I also second Steinberg's Dorico forum. I've gotten a lot of help there, including from developers at Steinberg.
Dave
But I think that does mean that there are certain things that I didn't learn how to do more efficiently, so I'm trying to catch up on some tutorials and such. Dorico has their own YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@dorico/videos
Here's one from their channel specifically for working with big band scores that I found useful. I think it's helpful to watch an experienced user input in music to pick up on some of the expert tricks built into the software.
https://www.youtube.com/live/adCMbD85Qt ... Fn-lcy1GEE
I also second Steinberg's Dorico forum. I've gotten a lot of help there, including from developers at Steinberg.
Dave