The Critical Editing of Music : History, Method, and Practice

[John Ruggero]

I have often wished for such a book, MarkSealey. Please post if you find one.

[MarkSealey]

Thanks, John - oddly: thanks!

Your comment is, of course, instructive… I conclude too that there isn't one :-(

I suspect that the Williams must, then, be the only/best available. Shall order it.

[John Ruggero]

Thanks for bringing this up, Mark. I will order the Williams, as well. I suspect, though, that it doesn't have the kind of detail that would be most interesting: who first started doing this or that and when.

[MarkSealey]

John,

Thanks to you for your advice!

Additionally, although Amazon's 'Look Inside' isn't available for the Thomas Kelly, and so it's not clear where its end date may lie, I have ordered that also .

[OCTO]

I think that the current, contemporary notation is what is distilled for last 400 years, thus our notation today represents the historical development, and the rules today are the most of the rules accumulated for centuries.
Therefore perhaps Williams is enough good so far to consider it to be "historical".

Here is to download it: Williams: https://archive.org/download/cu31924022 ... 319556.pdf

Apel: https://archive.org/download/notationof ... 00apel.pdf

I guess there should be another books but not in English. Try search with google translate into other languages.
Also more: https://archive.org/search.php?query=music%20notation - or try another search term (also german, french, italian, russain terms)

[MarkSealey]

Thanks, OCTO; Yes, for sure.

I'm curious about the actual historical phases themselves through which music notation and its conventions have passed.

[John Ruggero]

Thanks, OCTO. That saved me from ordering the Williams, which is not my cup of tea. I think I'll wait for a report on the Kelly, Mark, I am concerned that it might be more of a coffee table book and not deal in enough detail with areas that interest me.

[MarkSealey]

John,

It's certainly described as being at best but a little decaffeinated, isn't it.

But I allowed myself to be swayed by the several ('Early') music aficionados, whom one respects… Benjamin Bagby in particular.

[OCTO]

Mark, maybe your turn to write your own book on history of music notation?
I see the potential, but it is a very extensive task, indeed.
John has started numerous very interesting topics on notation in the historical editions, mostly on piano music. You can read it as an inspiration.

[MarkSealey]

OCTO,

Your faith in me is kind and much appreciated .

I believe I could do so… I do perhaps have the qualifications (albeit in other fields… first degree in history etc).

But at this stage, I'm committed to composing; I fondly imagined there'd be such books on the history of engraving etc aplenty.

Have been surprised by what we've discovered this week.

The books we've discussed (and on which you've all kindly commented/guided me) are all now in the post