AN IMPROVED MUSICAL SCALE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the invention for "AN IMPROVED
MUSICAL SCALE" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the ordinary scales used in the writing and reading of
musical compositions of all kinds, and it has for its object a novel form of such
scale applicable, in singing to voices, and in instrumental music to instruments of
all kinds and compass, so that the reading of the music is greatly facilitated, and
the difficulties caused by the different keys in music as ordinarily written are
avoided, the key of G only being retained.
In order to put the invention in operation the ordinary stave consisting of five
black lines is used, but a certain additional number of parallel lines of equal length,
but of different colour, for instance red, are arranged above the stave, and a further
additional number of similar lines of different colour, for instance yellow, are
arranged below the stave.
Supposing the invention to be applied to scales carrying musical notes to be
sung by a human soprano voice or by a tenor voice an octave higher, the compass
being of moderate extent, the same scale can be used for the musical instruments
known as saxophones or instruments of very restricted compass, and it is only
necessary to make two red lines above the ordinary stave and one yellow line
below it. For contralto and baritone voices, or bass wind instruments of small
compass, the red lines above the stave are not required, but three yellow ones
below it are used; whilst for bass voices or wind instruments of very low pitch
three yellow lines below the stave are used.
For stringed instruments of very wide compass such as the violin, or wind
instruments of somewhat similar range such as the clarionet, flute, or hautboys,
five or more red lines may be used above the stave, and two yellow ones below it;
and for stringed or wind instruments of lower pitch but of wide compass, such
as the bassoon or ophicleide, the red lines above the stave are reduced to two and
the yellow ones below it increased to three. For brass instruments of moderato
D. 11

page_text: compass such as the cornet à piston, bugles, sliding or three valved trombone, the
scale is further modified by using two red lines above the stave, and two yellow
ones below the latter.
For the four different orchestral horns a similar scale may be used having two
upper red lines and four lower yellow ones, the music being played as it is written;
whilst the same scale may be. used for the trumpet, playing the part an octave
higher than it is written, in the usual way.
It is obvious that the different arrangements of scales for the different instru-
ments or voices as described may be combined in one scale appropriate to all, and
to the piano and similar keyed instruments, a sufficient number. of red lines being
ranged above the stave, and a sufficient number of yellow ones below it, and two
such compound staves being used in the ordinary way, one for the right and one
for the left hand. The compass for the right hand for instance may extend over
fifteen distinct lines, five red ones above and five yellow ones below the ordinary
blackstave, it being preferable that the music should be placed an octave below its
proper position, which will render the notation easier for singing and utilizes the
bass lines.
The similar compound stave used for the left hand will however be played
in loco as it is written, its upper octave being the same as the lower octave of the
right hand.
The notation will therefore include seven octaves, occupying a determined
position and applicable to every key.
It is obvious that the upper and lower lines described may be of any other
conspicuous distinctive colours or character, instead of red and yellow.

page_text: I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of the invention for "AN IMPROVED
MUSICAL SCALE" (a communication to me from abroad by Louis Pigot, of
St. Chinian, in the Republic of France) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and, ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing:
This invention relates to the ordinary scales used in the writing and reading of
musical compositions of all kinds, and it has for its object a novel form of such
scales, applicable, in singing, to voices, and in instrumental music to instruments of
all kinds and various compass, so that the reading of the music is greatly facilitated,
and the difficulties caused by the different keys in music as ordinarily written are
avoided, a single key only, for instance that of G, being retained.
In this invention the ordinary stave of five black lines is used, but an additional
number of parallel lines of the same length but of different colour are arranged
above or below the stave, or both, those above the stave being preferably red, and
those below it yellow.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, the several figures
representing its application when used for the human voice or for musical
instruments of different compass.
Figure 1 shews Scales applicable to music sung by the human voice. A is that
appropriate to a soprano voice and to its octave the tenor, the latter being the type
of the male voice and the former of the female voice. This scale may also be used
for the four kinds of saxophones as ordinarily known and used, which are instru-
ments of limited compass. In it two red lines are used above the ordinary stave,
and one yellow line below the latter.
B shows the scale appropriate to the contralto and baritone, and it may also be
used for wind instruments of lower pitch than the former and also having limited
compass. In it two yellow lines below the stave only are used.
C is the scale for bass voices and instruments. In it three yellow lines are used
as shewn, below the stave.
In figure 2, D shews an arrangement of the novel scale adapted for stringed
instruments such as the violin, and wind instruments having a somewhat similar
compass such as clarionets, flutes, and hautbois. In this scale, there being a wide
range of the upper notes, five red lines are added above and two yellow ones below
the ordinary stave.
E is a scale appropriate to stringed instruments of lower pitch, and to bass wind
instruments of wide compass, such as bassoons, ophicleides, and the six-valved
saxhorns.
It has two red lines above the stave and three yellow lines below the latter.
Figure 3 shews scales adapted for brass instruments of a certain compass,
F being suitable for the cornet-á-pistons, bugles, and sliding or three-valve

page_text: trombones. Trombones of four or six valves will take their place with bass instru-
ments of similar kind. In this case there are two red lines above and two yellow
lines below the stave.
G is a scale suitable for the four different kinds of orchestral horns the first and
third well known as ascending, and the second and fourth as descending, the music
for which is played as written. It can also be used for the trumpet the music
being played an octave higher than written, as is usual with this instrument. The
solo horn may be used with the scale F, but is seldom used on account of its
difficulty, except by exceptionally brilliant solo players.
The ascending and descending horns however are essential in symphonies and
especially in military music. The scale G has three red lines above, and four
yellow ones below, the stave.
In figure 4 are shewn scales including the others, and applicable for the piano
and instruments of the like kind where both hands are used. The scale for the
right hand extends over fifteen lines, the music being written an octave lower than
it is to be played, the notation being easier and the bass lines being thus utilized.
The music for the left hand is played as written, its upper octave being the same
as the lower one for the right hand, there being really a range of seven octaves
occupying a determined position, without any change of key.
It is obvious that any other distinctive colours may be used instead of red and
yellow:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is 3.
The method of adding lines of different colours above and below the ordinary
stave, music written in a single key by such improved method being applicable to
all voices and every kind of instrument, substantially as described and shewn in
the drawing.