US1034420A - Note-sheet for musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. CHASE.

NOTE SHEET FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEO.22,1910.

1,034,420 Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT cr mes.

JOSEIH H. CHASE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY;

NOTE-SHEET FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

7 Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed December 22,1910. Serial No. 598,704.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Note-Sheets for Musical Instruments, of which the following description, in connection wit-h the accompany ing drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to prime controllers, such for instance, as note 'slieets, for'automatic' or partly automaticmusical instruments and pertains more particularly toinformative data or indicia for instructing the operator respecting the control of the instrument to suit the composition which is being played; I

' Among other objects, the invention is designed to'pro'vid'e a system of-informative notation for note sheets" and the like, which shall be readily readable and"understand able by the operator and preferably shall be aptly instructive of the 'proper'manner and extent ofoperation of mechanical devices for controlling the instrument so that the composition to be played may be rendered withthe desired effects.

The character of the invention may be ex plained conveniently by reference to an illustrative embodiment shown'in the accompanying drawing which represents a perforated note sheet having thereon various symbols indicating the manner and extent of operation of controlling devices. Such controlling devices as may be used practi-.

cally in conjunction with the illustrative notation of the drawing, are well exemplified by expression controlling levers of certain well-known types of piano players or player pianos in which variations of expression are produced by moving toward and from the strings of the iano a sectional or flexible hammer rail. ne type of such instrument has a flexible hammer rail comprising three principal sections sub-tending respectively bass, middle and treble divisions, said sections being controlled each by one of three expression levers. These levers, when in their normal positions of rest, leave the flexible hammer rail at its point of nearest approach to the strings, thereby prescribing the minimum distance of throw for the hammers for playing pianissimo. When the levers are depressed to the fullest "extent, they move the hammer rail to its maximum distance from the strings, thereby giving the hammers their maximum throw for playing fortissimo. When the levers are depressed to' intermediate positions, the hammer rail is moved correspondingly for playing mezzoforte, etc.

- The illustrative perforated note sheet of the drawings may be described conveniently by reference to three hammer-rail-controlling levers of the character explained in the next preceding paragraph.

One of the particular objects accomplished by this invention is the production of asystern of notation in which different symbols, representing different effects or different extents or manners of operation of a controlling device, shall be so readily distinguishable in appearance as to avoid any confusion whatever on the part of the operator. As well understood in the art, a note sheet travels at a substantial speed and it is oftentimes difiicult for an operator, especially a novice, to recognize and distinguish different indicia as they are suddenly presented to his view by the traveling sheet, and are thereafter promptly removed from view. It is a consideration of great importance, therefore, to have the different symbols conspicuously dlStlIlCtlX'Q and at the same time simple in design. These purposes are well served by the illustrative system of notation shown in the drawing. For example, the symbols 2., 3 and 4 consist merely of circles. These may be printed or stenciled upon the note sheet in any practicable manner, and if stenciled the circles would not have continuous circumferences because of the retaining tabs to support the stencil blank to cover the area of the circle. In effect, however, it is preferred to use merely a plain circle or other geometrical design having its circumference or outline indicated by a substantially continuous line. These symbols 2, 3 and at are illustrative levers symbols which may be employed on a note sheet or the like to indicate the extent of operation of expression or other controlling levers of an instrument, as, for instance, hammer-rail-controlling levers such as those above referred to.

In the specific illustrative system of notation, the plain circles 2, 3 and 4 indicate that the levers or other controlling devices are to be left free from manipulation to rest in their normal released positions. For convenience, the blank circles or the like may be called release symbols.

The symbol 2 represents .a hammer-railcontrolling lever or the like for the bass division .of the register; the symbol 3, the, lever for themiddle division; and the symbol 4, the lever for-the treble' divisiona Thus, these three illustrative release symbols indicate to the operator {that the-bass note of perforation 6, the middle division note of perforation 7, and the treble-note of perforation 8 are .all to be played when the three levers are fully released. Thus, on the assumed flexible hammer-rail instrument, said threenotes '6, -7 and 8 'would be played pianissimo. The next group of symbols 10, 11, 12 consist of circles having their areas completely i colored or. shaded, so that they shall be readily and completely distinguishable from such symbols as the blank circles 2, 3 and 4. Accordingto thespecific system, these full-shaded symbols 10, 1'1 and 12, indieateto the operator that thebass, middle and treble levers areto be fully depressed to the limits of their --movements, thereby in the specific flexible-hammer-rail instrument, (referred to by wayof illustration) causing the bass note of perforation 14:, the middle note of.-perforation 15 and treble note of perforation 16, all to be played fortissimo. The'next group of symbols 18, 19, 2O consist of circles having their areas half shaded to instruct the operator to depress the levers half-way from released position to full depressed position, thereby, upon the specific assumed, instrument, to cause the notes of perforations 22, 23 and 24, to be played mezzo-forte.- Thus, the blank circle, or other geometrical figure, the fullshaded figure, and the semi-shaded figure, indicate respectively different extents to which corresponding levers should be operated to produce desired efi'ects. Such symbols may be placed upon the note sheet in any practicable position so that they shall appear to the operator in the travel of the note sheet in sufiicient season to enable him to manipulate the levers, in accordance with the instruction conveyed by the symbols, so as to affect those notes to which the intended expression pertains. For instance, the group of symbols 2, 3 and 4, is located on the illustrative sheet slightly in advance of the alinement of the three note perforations 6, 7 and 8, to which the instruction of said symbolspertains. With this arrangement, as the symbols 2,, 3 and 4 approach or reach the tracker, the operator Wlll be instructed to leave all threelevers in released position. This illustrative relation between the symbols and note perforations is not essential and any relation will sufiice which will expose the symbols to view at an appropriate time as will be Well understood by those skilled in the art.

Symbols of the general character describedmay be located at desired intervals along the sheet at Whatever points it is desired that the expression should be changed. For example, after playing the three notes '22, 23 and 24 mezzo-forte (under the instruction conveyed'by the symbols 18, 19

and 20) it may be desired to play fortissimo the treble note 26; pianissimo themiddle division note 27 and mezzo-forte the bass note 28. The necessary instruction for this purpose is provided by symbols 29, 30 and 31 informing the operator respectively that the bass-lever .is to be semi-depressed; the middle lever to be left fully released, and the treble lever to be fully depressed.

The foregoing suflices to illustrate three illustrative types of symbols by which three operative positions of a controlling device may be readily denoted in distinctivecharacters upon'the note sheet,'to wit; the fully depressed, the semi-depressed, and the releasedpositions. Ifit be desired to indicate more than these three operative positions of the levers, similar symbols may be employed, as for instance, a shaded quadrant or quarter part of a circle or other figure, to indicate a quarter depression of a lever; and a shaded three-quarter area of a circle or other figure, to indicate a three-quarter depression of a lever. If desired, the symbols may be further distinguished by using different geometrical designs. For practical purposes, however, it is considered suflicient to indicate merely the three principal operative positions above described.

The three types of symbols referred to may be used in any desired combination as will appear to those skilled in the art, and as illustrated by the combination of the three different symbols 29, 30 and 31.

The symbols hitherto described and employed in the various combinations of which they are susceptible, serve to indicate the extent to which the expression levers, respectively, or other controlling devices, are intended to be operated. Some additional information or instruction is desirable to be conveyed to indicate the manner in which the levers should be operated to one extent or another in order, for example, to accent a selected note or notes or to produce crescendo, diminuendo or other effects. Such additional information may be conveyed by altering the appearance of such symbols as have already been described, as by means of supplemental indicia,the desideratum being to give to a symbol indicating an extent of operation, such an appearance or aspect as will also indicate a manner of operation of a controlling device. To exemplify such informative indicia, the group of symbols 32,

33, 34 comprises accent symbols 35 and 36. The symbol 33, being a full shaded figure, indicates the full depression by the corresponding controlling device, and the appearance of this full depression symbol is modified by the accent mark- 35 so as to indicate that the full depression is to be made suddenly or rapidly and to be followed by an immediate release such that'the middle division note of perforation 37 will be played with a fortissimdaccent, :Likewise the symbol 34, being asemi-shaded figure, indicates a'- semi depression of the controlling device, and the' appearance of that symbol is modified bythe accent mark 36 so as-to instruct the operator to semi-depress the device suddenly or rapidly and thereafter torele ase it immediately in order to give the treble note ofuperforation 38 a mezzo-forte accent. Thus, the two specific characters 33" and 35, by=their combined distinctive appearance, constitute, in effect, a single indication for a quick full depression and release, namelya fortissimo accent; and

the two characters 34 and 36 together con-- stitute, in effect, a distinctive mezzo-forte accent symbol. These two accent symbols are accompanied for illustration by the blank-symbol 32 indicating that the lever for the bass division is in full release position to play the note 39 pianissimo. ,The next group of un shadedwsymbols 40, 41, 42, indicate that the three leversare to be left released. The symbol 44indicates the gradual, though rapid,.depression of the treble lever to the full depressed position indicatedby thefull depression symbol 45 of the next group, whereby the. treblerun 46 will be played with a rapid crescendo and the note of perforation i7 will be played fortissimo after the treble lever has reached its fully depressed position, as indicated by the symbol 45. The symbol 50 indicates a slow, gradual depression of the middle lever to the semi-depressed position indicated by the symbol 51, whereby the group of notes 52 will be played with a slow crescendo and the note 53 will be played mezzoforte. In the bass division the notes 55 will be played pianissimo following the instruction of the symbol 40 and the bass note 56 will be played mezzo-forte following the instruction of the symbol 57. 7

After the fortissimo of the treble note of perforation 47, the treble lever having been fully depressed as indicated by the symbol 45, a symbol 58 indicates a rapid, gradual release of the treble lever ending with the full release indicated by the blank symbol 59, thereby causing the notes of the group 60 of perforations to be played with a rapid diminuendo and the note 61 to be played pianissimo. Following the semi-depression symbol 51 there is a slow gradual depression symbol 63 which, in turn is followed by a full depression symbol 64. This fullshaded symbol 64 indicating the full depression of the middle lever, may have its appearance or aspect modified so as to indicate an immediate release of the lever following the gradual crescendo depression thereof. A so-called release symbol 65 is shown to exemplify indicia for this purpose, the characters 64 and 65 constituting together, in effeet, a release symbol to follow the crescendo mark. .By following the instruction of the symbols 63, 64 and 65, the operator will cause the notes of the group 67 of perforations to be'played with a gradual crescendo, the note 68 being played at substantially fortissimo,-,and the note 69 being played pianissimo upon the release of the middle lever.

Following the semi-depression symbol 57 there is a slow gradual release symbol 70 followed, in turn, by a full release symbol 71.. By following the instruction of these symbols the operator will cause the notes of the group. 72 of perforations to be played with a gradual diminuendo and the note 73 to be played pianissimo.

The fore oing description of illustrative symbols an a practical arrangement thereof will suffice to indicate the general character of the invention, such symbols being well adapted for use to instruct the operator in the manipulation of one or more mechanical or other devices for regulating or controlling the rendition of a composition. The specific symbols have been explained in connection with an assumed exemplary type of instrument having three controlling levers; but it is to be understood, of course, that the specific system of notation described is not limited to use in connection with such an instrument, but may be applied to a variety of instruments as will appear to those skilled in the art.

The specific embodiment of the invention described, comprises symbols pertaining to the regulation of volume or intensity characteristics, but the invention is applicable to symbols for other purposes. \Vhen syn'rbo-ls contemplated by this invention are used to indicate intensity regulations, they may be accompanied by tempo indications of any practicable type, if desired.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific system of notation described above; on the contrary said system may be widely modified within the scope of the subjoined claims. It is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conj ointly since they may be used to advantage in different combinations and sub-combinations.

Claims: Y

1. A note sheet for musical instruments having thereon a plurality of separate groups of informative symbols providing instructions for the control of an instrument, the groups being substantially alined lengthwise the sheet and confined within a. narrow area extending along the sheet, whereby the groups are presented in succession at substantially the same point in the operators field of vision;'each said group comprising a plurality of symbols disposed transversely of the sheet in an alinement parallel to the alinementof symbols in each of the other groups, whereby all the groups have the same symmetrical arrangement of alined symbols, permitting the groups to be positioned closely adjacent each other on the sheet where desired; the symbols of said groups comprising geometrical figures having partially and wholly shaded and unshaded areas, respectively, the different 'shadings being substantially different in area, whereb the symbols are conspicuously differentiate in individual-appearance andare readily recognizable'and distinguishable? by the operator; each said symbol by its conspicuous individual shading: rlack of shading indicating, in and of itself and independently of its position on 'the' sheet-0rv in relation to other symbols, a certain predetermined extent of operation of a'-oon trol ling device by which a desired effect may be produced; each said group comprising symbols as aforesaid so indicating such extents of operation of a plurality of controlling devices, respectively.

2. A note sheet for musical instruments having thereon a plurality of separate and independent informative symbols comprising geometrical figures having, respectively, substantially and conspicuously different areas thereof shaded to contribute readilyrecognizable distinctive appearances to the respective types of symbols; each said symbol, by its distinctive shaded or non-shaded appearance and independently of its position on the sheet or any relation to other symbols, indicating in and of itself a certain predetern'iined, exact, extent of operation of a controlling device; and additional indicia indicating the manner of operation of said controlling device to the extent indicated by a symbol aforesaid.

3. A note sheet for musical instruments having thereon a plurality of separate and independent informative symbols comprising substantially circular figures; certain of said circular figures having their areas substantially entirely shaded to indicate in and of themselves, individually, and independently of their absolute or relative positions on the sheet, and independently of any other symbols, a certain, exact, predetermined extent of operation of a controlling device; other said circular figures being substantially unshaded and thereby conspicuously different in appearance from the entirelyshaded figures and readily distinguishable therefrom, said substantially unshaded circular' figures indicating in and of themselves, individually, and independently of absolute or relative position on the sheet and independently of any other symbols, a second certain exact predetermined extent of operation of the said controlling device; still others of said circular figures having their areas partly shaded and conspicuously different in appearance from the aforesaid entirely-shaded figures and unshaded figures and readily distinguishable from both thereof, said partly shaded figures indicating in and of themselves, individually, and

independently of their absolute or relative fposit-ionon the sheet and independently of iany other symbol, a certain, exact, predetermined extent of operation of a controlling idevice intermediate the two extents of op- ?eration indicated, respectively, as aforesaid by said entirely-shaded and unshaded figures; said several symbols being disposed lengthwise the sheet and located, respectively, at points where it is desired to change the control by means of the controliling device aforesaid, and the symbols collectively indicating exactly the extents to which such device is to be operated at such "points of change throughout the operation of the note sheet.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my iname to this specification, in the presence of itwo subscribing witnesses.

5 JOSEPH H. CHASE.

\Vitnesses:

LAURENCE A. JANNEY, ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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