Traditional Hopi Songs - online book

Native American Songs With Sheet Music, Notation & Commentary

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	THE PHONOGRAPHIC METHOD                         57 note indicated by each of the heavier lines is written at its left hand end. In naming the harmonium notes the white keys are indicated by the usual lettering; c' signifying the tone corresponding to about 268 vibrations per second, c" its next higher octave, c its next lower octave, and C the octave below this. For the black keys, instead of either of the ordinary derivative names (flat or sharp), it seemed best to adopt a compound lettering, the sign for the white key next below preceding that for the white key next above; e. g. ab for the key commonly called either. As in the like nomenclature of the mariner's compass this system might be applied further, the quarter tone be­tween a and ab being called aab orand that between ab and b, abb or ab2. The spaces, finally, between the horizontal lines, instead of being the width of the head of an ordinary musical note as in the common nota­tion, are here made large enough to admit of its taking three easily distinguishable positions therein. These are positions (1) touching the lower boundary of the space only, (2) touching neither boundary, and (3) touching the upper boundary only. There is thus afforded for each of the fourteenths of a tone assumed as the steps in the scale of these notations a gradation of position easily distinguishable from every other; as appears in the following scheme of correspondence : —