Music Notation

Great reference for everything dealing with musical notation

Interesting historical explanations from a composer’s point of view.

I'm so glad I was able to get my hands on a copy of this book before it disappears for good! This book really should be republished and made required reading in undergraduate (and graduate) music schools. I have a MM in music and never studied some of the rudimentary technicals of writing music. Sad, but true. When you have a cluster chord which note-head goes where? Multi-voice writing requires aligning rhythms differently than simply having two notes appearing on the same beat (you align noteheads in one case and stems in another). These types of technicals are very important. We've absorbed many by wrote without realizing why or we know something looks odd but don't know why. All the technical details you want to know are what is covered by this book. I wish I had this (and Elaine Gould's book too!) years ago while I was still in school. The beginning of the book also covers a history of notation methods leading up to modern western notation methods which was very interesting and much of the information was novel to me even though I studied music history. You learn the "epitaph of seikelos" but you don't learn (at least I didn't) what was actually going on with it. This is not to imply that Read decodes the epitaph, only that he does delve more deeply into the history of notation methods themselves.

It's excellent reference material, but spends a lot of time on basic notation that musicians who read music would already know. From time-to-time, the writing style comes off as a bit pompous. Despite those criticisms, it will be handy to anyone involved in writing music.

This is one of the most informative and INTERESTING books I've ever read concerning the subject of musical notation. It goes into the history of notation and shows the evolution of how it began to where it is now, and where it is going including newer experimental notational methods. I won't go into detail as previous reviewers have done a great job of that, but even if you never write a single note of music, there is much to be gained by reading this book. What I like most is the critical detail of EXACT procedure when notating music by hand. Computerized music notation programs do all the notating details for you and the composer who relies solely on these programs for musical notation is not understanding what it is that they are doing. This book clearly explains, using plain English, how to go about the task of hand-writing music with many, many examples and even tests to see if you understand what you are learning. I have a degree in Music and I have learned more from this book about music notation than I ever did in music school.I can't say enough good things about this book and it is my favorite music notation book so far. I have several others.

At an interview done on Steve Vai he mentioned that he read this book, So I had to check it out, one of the best investments I’ve made on Music notation, It’s like having the Bible of music in your hands, if you really want to learn music notation you should consider getting this book

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR! A BOOK ON MUSIC NOTATION ! A CLASSIC! BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. EASY TO READ. I BOUGHT MINE USED IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

It's a classic and I'm glad to be able to find a copy at a reasonable price.

Not having a formal or proper education in music can make it difficult to read music that is just a bit more advanced than lesson-one stuff. Writing your own music down is even worse, as you struggle to express the music.Which is what this book is about: It has - I dare say! - all the music notational information you will need to have, collected in a way that is both interresting and inspiring. If you want to know how to score for the timpani's, for a harp, for cymbals - if you want to write a cluster in the avantgarde way - or if you just cannot remember how to organize the rythm instruments or write a cleff - THIS is the book.Here is a wealth of information, clearly and exact directed against each instrument from the classical orchestra to the modern jazz and rythmical groups. Limits and playing style is discussed, in order for you as composer to be able to express the music - and also in order for you as player to understand what in the world the strange symbols actually means.If I should point at just one thing to make better, that would be a more extensive index. You can find what you are looking for, but it can be better. Other that that, the book is so good!

Une partition de musique doit non seulement être conforme à sa source (manuscrit ou édition ancienne), mais aussi respecter un certain nombre de règles dans la manière de représenter les notes. Ces règles, qu'il ne faut pas confondre avec le solfège, constituent la typographie musicale. Elles améliorent le confort de lecture pour le musicien, et évitent les malentendus.Ce livre sera donc utile à tout ceux qui utilisent un logiciel de gravure musicale, et donc à plus forte raison, aux auteurs de tels logiciels. Les particularités de la musique contemporaine sont abordées.Il m'a semblé, toutefois, que certaines des règles préconisées, même si ce ne sont pas les plus essentielles, se conforment encore à des usages du 19° siècle, au lieu des usages modernes.

Very interesting book, indeed. One of the very few with dedicated chapters about music engraving history.

Just what you need to understand the nuances of music

Excellent text. Good enough for Zappa and Vai, good enough for me.