Music Notation

A Brief History

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Tibetan chant

Info conveyed:1. Pitch contour2. Vocal articulation

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Byzantine chant

Info conveyed:1. Intervallic contour2. Vocal articulation?

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Byzantine chant

Info conveyed in transcription:1. Intervallic contour2. Pitch?3. Vocal articulation?4. Meter?5. Barring??

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Koto instruction manual (1817)

Info conveyed:1. String number2. Ornament3. Stroke4. Beat (instrument)5. Vocal syllable

Ikta school

Vertical notation

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Machaut: rhymed love song (c. 1350)

Info conveyed:1. Specific pitch2. Relative duration3. Lyrics4. Rhyme scheme

Library of Congress

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Josquin: Missa Beata Vergine (c 1500)

Polyphonic music

Four parts in one view

Info conveyed:1. Specific pitch2. Specific duration3. Lyrics (underspecified)

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Illuminated Hymnal

Vatican Library

Info conveyed:1. Specific pitch2. Specific duration3. Lyrics 4. Symbol of patronage

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Ockeghem: Missa Ecce Ancilla (c. 1475)

Vatican LibraryMessage; patronage

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Chant MS (1513)

Vatican Library

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Lute tablature (Capirola Lute Book, 1517)

Info conveyed: 1. String number2. Fret number3. Relative duration

Newberry Library

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Frescobaldi Keyboard Music(Rome, c. 1620)

Keyboard layout

Vatican LibraryTablature-like staves

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Landi: Sant’Alessio (1634)

Info conveyed is for the “chorus”: Music, text, choreography, scenery

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Bach canon (1713)

Canon subject: Monophonic nucleus of polyphonic work

Info conveyed1. Transportable

pitch2. Exact duration3. Instructions for

polyphonic realization

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Vivaldi: Sonata RV 779 (c. 1716)

Score for chamber music (violin, oboe, optional chalumeau, organ)

Chamber sonata

Dresden: Landesbibliothek

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Handel: Jephtha (1752)

Working draft

Info conveyed:1. Pitch2. Duration3. Lyrics4. Dynamics5. Revisions

Opera/oratorio

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Mozart: Sketch of Clarinet Concerto K622 (1791)

Composer’s sketch book

Info conveyed:1. General ideas2. Core thematic

ideas3. Abbreviated

notation

British LibraryConcerto

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Chopin MS (c. 1830)

Univ. So. Calif.

Working draft

Info conveyed:1. Pitch2. Duration3. Note groupings

BeamsSlurs

4. Dedication5. Revisions

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Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture (1830)

Bodleian Library, OxfordOrchestral score

Working draft

Info conveyed:1. Pitch2. Duration3. Articulation4. Dynamics5. Slurs6. Revisions

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Mahler: Unfinished Symphony (1908)

Sketch:

Info conveyed:1. General plan for

orchestration2. Thematic ideas3. Salutation

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Bussotti (1979)

Info conveyed: pitch contour, dynamics, beams, syllables, timbral effects

Analytical score

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Synoptic View

Most important features vary by•Repertory•Period•Performing resources•Intended user