AN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN TEACHING AND COMPOSING MUSIC
Year: 1884

page_text: I, MATTHEW PARIS, residing at Hawthorn Lodge, Crescent Road, Ramsgato,
Kent, being a retired Clerk in the Medical Department of the Navy, London, do
hereby declare the nature of said invention of AN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
IN TEACHING AND COMPOSING MUSIC to be as follows :—
Upon a frame of wood, or other material wires, or strings are stretched, upon these
wires, or strings, are placed pieces of metal, or of other material, which represent
musical notes and signs, having various shapes, colours, and breadth. The hori-
zontal wires, or strings, are divided into bars by vertical wires, or other means.
There are as many horizontal wires as there are notes in the octaves required and
the most convenient distance for the wires to be apart is about the third of an inch:
The length and breadth of the apparatus are according to what is required-
Behind the wires is stretched paper, or other material, so coloured and marked as to
enable the person using the apparatus to sec without difficulty the proper wire for
placing a note, each wire having a special mark, colour, or both. The duration of
the note is shown by its breadth, sharps, flats, dotted notes and rests by colour in
addition. The other notes and signs are provided.
When a person wishing to compose uses a musical instrument requiring but one
hand, he can with the other arrange the notes. For double-handed instrumentalists
it will be necessary to record at intervals. The notes can be shifted about until
the ear is satisfied. When the musician has completed his piece of music he may
copy it off after playing it from the apparatus. The notes inay be left on the wires
and shifted about for another piece.
Persons able to sing and knowing their notes will not need the help of a musical
instrument in composing, but can place the notes as they sing.
The advantage of this apparatus to teachers is obvious.

page_text: I, MATTHEW PARIS, retired Clerk in the Medical Department of the Navy,
London, residing at Hawthorn Lodge, Crescent Road, Ramsgate, Kent, do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for ASSISTING IN TEACHING AND COMPOSING
MUSIC and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Wires, or strings, are stretched across a suitable frame and are divided into bars
by cross wires, or standards. The number of wires, or strings, is according to
requirement, there being one for each note in the octaves comprised. Behind the
wires, or strings, there is a marked and coloured backing of any suitable material
to enable the person using the apparatus to find without hesitation the required
wire, or string. Upon the wires, or strings, are to be placed, with or without, the
aid of the sound of a musical instrument, hooks of metal, or other material shaped
generally like a note of interrogation projecting horizontally. These hooks have
various colours, shapes, and breadth and represent the usual Musical notes and
signs, as well as new ones, and by placing and arranging these upon the wires, or 1
strings, as if in writing music, a musical composition may be so formed as to be
capable of being played over, and, when considered satisfactory, may be copied on -
paper. The duration of a note, or rest, is generally shown by the breadth of the
hook. The colours chosen throughout may be such as to suit the eye of the person
and in cases of colour blindness, partial, or total, marks may be substituted-As
far as possible in all the apparatus made the same colours on the backing should be
adhered to and should represent the same notes of the octaves. The horizontal
wires (fore and after), or strings, may be conveniently about the third of an inch
apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said 2
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The employment of moveable notes and signs placed and running upon wires;
substantially as herein described and for the purposes set forth.
2. The showing of the duration of the note, or rest, by its breadth generally; in 3
some cases by shape also; substantially as herein described and for the purposes
set forth.
3. The employment of colour and marks to facilitate manipulation of of the
moveable notes and signs; substantially as herein described and for the purposes
set forth.
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