[Musical Notation] Wallbridge, Arthur. [Lunn, William Arthur Brown.]
"The Sequential System of Musical Notation" - Rare Treatise on Music Theory
London: Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 1844. Second Edition. The Sequential System of Musical Notation: a proposed new Method of writing Music, in strict conformity with Nature, and essentially free from all Obscurity & Intricacy ... The second Edition, being a matured and detailed Treatise, succeeding the first, or Prospectus, Edition. vi, 22, [2] pp. With 5 lithographed plates by Joseph Aresti (of which three are folding, and one double-page); original publisher's glazed lithographed wrappers, printed in gold. Rubbing and soiling with some tears to the spine, chipped at head; overall very good. 8.5 x 10.5 inches (21.5 x 26.8 cm). Rare; WorldCat locates 2 copies outside Europe, at the NYPL and Yale.This eccentric treatise lays out a new system of musical notation "in perfect accordance with nature," which would eliminate the supposed supremacy of C major. The author admits that "The general introduction of the new system, however, would necessitate a new description of key-board, constructed in no particular key, but, like the human voice, with capacity for adaptation to any key, with the same ease and propriety." Not content only to design a new keyboard and new system of note heads to indicate pitch, Wallbridge also develops a new way of notating rhythms, and new symbols for articulation, tempo, and even instruments! The book culminates with a short piano piece, written in parallel in tradition and "new" notation—with bewildering results.
The Spectator gave the publication a negative review: "Instead of having to deal with any discovery of positive utility, we are here presented with the crotchety notions of an amateur regarding our present musical system, the conventional signs of which he proposes to displace by others; but, on the evidence of his own translated specimen, with nothing gained either in point of brevity or simplicity." (January 13, 1844.) (16388)
Book Classical Music