Notation
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Definition
Notation, or Music notation is the written or printed visualization of what a performer needs to do to produce a certain piece of music. Notation indirectly represents music, by using a system of visual symbols.
Notation does not directly symbolize sound nor what can be heard, but rather that which has to be performed, so that sound is indirectly symbolized. Notation captures precise actions to produce sounds: notation is music that can be seen and read, and can thus be transferred in time or space so others can learn a piece of music without directly copying or even hearing another's, among which a composer's or a teacher's, playing.
Notation eventually also in part implies writing down what is to be percieved, what is to be heard. In this sense, notation means writing down what can be heard (both internally as imagination and externally as perception) for the reading, playing or performance, by other musicians, with symbols for sounds, tones and silences.
Reading notation
There is a huge difference between being able to decypher and being able to read musical notation, the same difference as exists basically between being able to decypher (translate) or truly read languages[1], such as this 何この諺にお読みください or this 이게 말합를 참조하시기 바랍니다 or this 請閱讀本說什麼 or this language يرجى قراءة هذا ما تقول or even this language below:
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For a musician using notation, one has to be able to fluently read it. The ability to read musical notation can vary from being able to read the notes (aloud, by name) to being able to sing or play (a part of) them, or even a whole score, or when necessary intelligently summarizing the essential into something audibly acceptable, to being able to silently read it "aloud in one's mind": to listen to the music written in one's imagination.
The ability to fluently read is essential for musicians who make (extensive) use of written music.
Forms of notation
Notated music is also called sheet music.
Worldwide there are and have been various forms of music-notation, each specific for the World music tradition it has or had been developed for, each emphasizing certain important elements and leaving out others. All systems were developed by performers in their oldest forms; most use a set of 7 basic tones.
Especially the system of Western notation has spread worldwide and has been adopted by and adapted for many different traditions and styles.
Based on this system, slightly different contemporary notations have developed which will be described separately:
Differing forms of notation which will be briefly described later are:
Footnotes
- ↑ Yet, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
See also
- Outline of basic music theory
- Contemporary classical notation
- Special:Browse/Notation - browse this page to find whiteboards treating notation
- Sheet music
- Lilypond
