WVD Press was founded in 1994 by William V. Dorwart, who has for many years been a pit cellist for musical theater productions, most notably with The Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra.  Out of frustration with the errors and illegibility of the Kalmus orchestral parts for the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas came the inspiration to create new editions of all these shows.

WVD Press scores, published by a musician, are very player-friendly:

• Page turns are placed at convenient spots.
• Numerous cues are included, both so that players do not have to count long series of tacet measures, and so that missing solo instruments may be covered by others.
• Scores are performance tested before being released.
• All copies are produced directly on a high definition laser printer (no Xeroxes).
• Scores can be custom-modified, whether for key changes, alternate endings, alternate text/ translations, or for whatever other special request the customer may have.
• Conductor's scores are available in two formats:  one with the vocal lines at the top, and one with the vocal lines in their traditional place above the strings.
• The trumpet parts are supplied both in the original A and B flat, and transposed entirely into B flat for players who are not comfortable transposing while they play. For some shows clarinet parts transposed into B flat are available; for others the transposition can be done for a fee.

The following Gilbert & Sullivan shows have been completed:

• The Gondoliers
• HMS Pinafore
• Iolanthe
• The Mikado
• Patience
• Pirates of Penzance
• Princess Ida
• Ruddigore (includes orchestration of the original 2nd-Act finale and Away Remorse)
• Sorcerer
• Trial by Jury
• Yeomen of the Guard (recently revised, now includes an orchestration of A Laughing Boy)

• The Zoo (music by Sullivan, lyrics by B. C. Stephenson)
• A Gilbert and Sullivan Christmas Carol (music by Sullivan, lyrics by Gayden Wren) A charming combination of the Dickens story with Sullivan's music.  Two versions are available; one requiring an hour to perform, and the other about an hour and a half.
• The Merry Widow (Franz Lehar) The WVD Press edition (with a different translation of the lyrics) has been used by the Metropolitan Opera for 26 performances over three seasons.  The available translation is by Sheldon Harnick. Also available is a full score in the original German or a score with no lyrics or dialogue for those who wish to use a different translation or language. Two reduced orchestrations for Merry Widow are available. Each reduction has its own full score. The first eliminates one oboe, two horns, and one trombone, assigning their notes to other instruments. The second eliminates the second bassoon in addition to the oboe, two horns, and one trombone.
  
• Gypsy Baron (Johann Strauss, Jr.) Full score & parts.  The full score is available with English translation by Henrik Ege or Quade Winter.  The score is also availble with no text for those who wish to insert their own translation. A German language version is now available.
  
• Aida (Guiseppe Verde) String parts have been prepared in a joint project with the Metropolitan Opera and the Chicago Lyric Opera. 
• Naughty Marietta (Victor Herbert) A new edition has been prepared in cooperation with the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project.  Source material included a copy of the original score in Herbert's own hand. The new edition was premiered by the Little Orchestra Society In Alice Tulley Hall in the Lincoln Center on March 8, 2006.
• Yours is My Heart Alone (Franz Lehar, from The Land of Smiles) Full score, parts, and piano/vocal score available in two keys, with English and German lyrics.
  

• Prices for Gilbert and Sullivan range from $220 for a score and set of parts (strings 3,3,2,1,1) for Trial by Jury to $570 for the longer shows. Prices for parts increased on Jan. 1, 2008, the first price increase by WVD Press in 14 years.
  
• For The Merry Widow a full score is $375. A set of parts (strings 4,4,3,2,1) is $525. For the reduced orchestration a full score is $375 and a set of parts (strings 4,4,3,2,1) is $500.
  
• For Gypsy Baron a full score is $600. A set of parts (strings 4,4,3,2,1) is $900.
• Payment by check only. Unfortunately, WVD Press does not accept credit cards.
• Prices are for sale only.  WVD Press does not rent parts.
•  For Naughty Marietta a full score is $500, a set of parts (strings 4,4,3,2,1) is $700 and a piano vocal score is $40.
  

 

A sampling of the many Gilbert and Sullivan links on the Web

Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
The Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, Media, PA

E-mail the WVD Press Office