Improvements in the Notation of Music.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895
Improvements in the Notation of Music.
I, HORATIO KELSON BROMHEAD of 243 St. Vincent Street Glasgow, Scotland,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in continuously distinguishing the key or key notes of
any music upon the staff on which it is written or printed, so that musicians using
the music need not remember or find out the key or the key note; but will have
that indicated throughout the music.
In carrying out my invention the ordinary staff and staff notations are made use
of, and in addition thereto I adopt distinguishing signatures or marks or indications
to shew or exhibit the key note or key notes of the key in which the music happens
to be written, and I do so either continuously or interruptedly and recurrently as
the nature of the music admits or renders expedient or convenient.
The distinguishing signatures marks or indications of the key notes which I add
may be in any shape or form to suit the various kinds and sizes of music, and when
I use short repeating lines with intervals between them, or dotted lines, I continue
them along the spaces of the staff or the spaces of the ledger lines which happen to
be the key note; and where the key note is one of the lines of the staff or a ledger
line I omit portions of that line and so change it into a dotted line and thereby
indicate that it is the key note. Or otherwise I repeat various marks along the
lines and spaces that are the key note, so as to sufficiently or efficiently indicate
the key note continuously or recurrently and repeatedly.
With my invention it is not necessary to use the present signatures of the scale
or key; it is also not necessary to omit the present signatures of the scale or key:
either method may be adopted. Further it is not necessary to use the present
signatures of the clef; it is also not necessary to omit the present signatures of
the clef: either method may be adopted.
The novelty of this invention is;-First, the indicating or marking or
distinguishing the key note or notes of music upon the staff either continuously or
interruptedly and recurrently and somewhat continuously. Second, the indicating
or marking or distinguishing the key note or notes of music upon the staff either
continuously or interruptedly and recurrently and somewhat continuously by means
of dotted lines or dots or marks or repeating short lines with intervals between
them. Third, the indicating the key note or notes as aforesaid and omitting the
ordinary signature of clef or the ordinary signature of staff, either or both
of them.
Dated this Seventh day of June 1894.
I, HORATIO KELSON BROMHEAD of 243 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists in continuously distinguishing the key or key notes of
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page_text: any music upon the staff on which it is written or printed, so that persons using the
music need not remember or find out the key or key note or notes: but will have
them indicated throughout the music.
In carrying out my invention the ordinary staff and staff notations are made use
of, and in addition thereto I adopt distinguishing signatures or marks or indications
to show or exhibit the key note or key notes of the key in which the music happens
to be written, and I do so either continuously or interruptedly and recurrently as
the nature of the music admits or renders expedient or convenient.
The distinguishing signatures marks or indications of the key notes which I add
-may-be-in any shape-or-form-to-suit the various kinds and sizes of music, and when
I use short repeating lines with intervals between them, or dotted lines, I continue
them along the spaces of the staff or the spaces of the ledger lines which happen to
be the key note; and where the key note is one of the lines of the staff or a ledger
line I omit portions of that line and so change it into a dotted line and thereby
indicate that it is the key note. Or otherwise I repeat various marks along the
lines and spaces that are the key note, so as to sufficiently or efficiently indicate the
key note continuously or recurrently and repeatedly.
With my invention it is not necessary to use the present signatures of the scale
or key; it is also not necessary to omit the present signatures of the scale or key:
either method may be adopted. Further it is not necessary to use the present
signatures of the clef ; it is also not necessary to omit the present signatures of the
clef: either method may be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. The indicating or marking or distinguishing the key note or notes of music
upon or along the staff either continuously or interruptedly and recurrently and
somewhat continuously.
Second. The indicating or marking or distinguishing the key notes of music
upon or along the staff either continuously or interruptedly and recurrently and
somewhat continuously by means of dotted lines or dots or marks or repeating
short lines with intervals between them.
Third. The indicating the key note or notes as aforesaid and omitting the
ordinary signature of the clef or the ordinary signature of the staff either or both
of them.
Fourth. The indicating the key note or notes as aforesaid: but not continuously-
only indicating at the commencement of the music or of the lines of music.
Dated this Sixth day of March 1895.
HORATIO KELSON BROMHEAD.