HUMA 2104 - Intro to

Music Theory
Lets talk about notation

Tuesday, September 3, 13

What is a composer?

A composer is a guy who goes around

forcing his will on unsuspecting air
molecules, often with the assistance of
unsuspecting musicians.
- Frank Zappa

Tuesday, September 3, 13

What is a composer?

For our purposes we can just say that a

composer is someone who organizes
sound.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

What is music notation

Put simply, it is a written language,

consisting of symbols developed to
communicate musical ideas.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Why do we need music

notation?
It is much more durable than aural
transmission. (think aural storytelling
traditions)
It is much more efficient than descriptions
using standard written or spoken language.
It allows us transmit complex and specific
ideas that will last as long as the medium
upon which it is written.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Why do we need music

notation?
Syrinx by Claude Debussy (written in
1913)
Pretend that you are Debussy. Without
notation, how would you describe this
piece in such a way that a performer
would reproduce your original musical
ideas?

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Tuesday, September 3, 13

Why do we need music

notation?

Notation also
provides a way
to precisely
coordinate many
parts/people.

Tuesday, September 3, 13

But really... Why do we

need notation?
In a lot of cases, we actually dont.
It really depends upon a few factors
Degree of complexity
Degree of specificity
Means of transmission and
preservation

Tuesday, September 3, 13

But really... Why do we

need music notation
Outside of the Western classical
tradition, it is quite common to find
music with no written notation system.
Even some complex styles of music are
taught by rote, like Balinese Gamelan.
And others, like jazz, are partially
notated, but largely improvised.
Tuesday, September 3, 13

But really... Why do we

need music notation
However notation is essential to the
majority of music within the Western
classical tradition.
It provides a means by which to clearly
convey musical ideas.
Without it, we wouldnt have this...

Tuesday, September 3, 13

But really... Why do we

need music notation

Or even this.

Tuesday, September 3, 13