Posted by Mark Heter on March 08, 2004 at 23:55:41:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Double-flat (bb) posted by you are... on March 08, 2004 at 15:05:14:
It's to remain consonant within the key signature. You see double sharps in sharp keys for the same reason. In "modern" notation, arrangers (and their copyists) avoid these things and write the more familiar notation, increasing the likeliehood of the tune being played properly at the first reading.
Washington Grays is one of the oldest marches still in current use. The CF edition is about the only known today; Grafulla's original is long lost. Grafulla is buried in the Green-Wood Cemetary in Brooklyn, and Goldman Memorial Band usually features one of his marches in their annual concerts there. WG is still a great march - it never runs out of ideas.