US1194811A

US1194811A - billin gs

Info

Publication number: US1194811A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1916-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1933-08-15

Description

F. C. BILLLNGS. MUSIC ROLL FOR PIANO PLAYERS, 8L0,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, E916. 1,194,811.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l wi/lmimo F. C. mums;

MUSLC ROLL FOR PIANO PLAYERS, @cc.

APPLICATION FLUID I1AL\'.!8,19S5. F 1,194,81 1 Yatented Aug. 10,1916

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wuenhn w L If 6 1, MW QM gm UNITED sire: PAT hl l OFFICE.

1 1.1M m l/(me all; may; concern,

B: it known that I, Funneuici; C, Br m runs, a ci' izen of the Ui'iited 1 ding at 'lllilwoulzee, county or? i' i 5 Stat of l \isc :isim have inr ul lainrovemeuts in. Mu I r W "n W 01 which f itcs o inmrowzi'ncjnt u, d. et a Ever plane it he; mourn; wnere" i. (7 in s nchron si sage of the porters om i tracker lam would he dcsirah lo the rapid iuowemrn trzui hm l U to Ll wet o yer the without lly in synprmluced (neon atlonzpts provide such 'l'ot he learned lo the o l he read, iutelligihly i lIUSlOU and each note -12: chromium with the h the instrunwnt. hisve hm'otoim', liven. ii z'whord slu I ruti m*- lily the ru ing;

10 but no of 4 a g'naycr piano per 4 roll will mean wuitm lidltitli s 4.13 follow li or wary type and the uccmluiany111g; words the song, heing displayed in complete synchronism with the waist? of the respective n "orutions with I nt l) l such it lllCFtSll r A the fact that measure to th Tocins; inuicz'zlm an. the IlOlieS cmun Uients oi the:

onshlcrulrl}; r

. MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN.

IZ L EIMKY ER $16G.

letters Patent Patented Au". 15,1916.

191$, Serial No. 85,015.,

a perforated sheet or music roll designed particularly for training beginners in singing and in which the perforations, notes and. Words are so arranged as to register with the tracker liar, substantially simultaneously and in a manner to avoid confusion. i Fig. 3 is a View, similar to Fig. l, but adapted merely for use by soloists. Fig. 4c is a View, also similar to Fig l, but illustrating a variation in the scale fragments, notes and Words to suit the requirements of pieces which are played in quick time, the other views being adapted for slow time producmons.

Like parts are identified by the same reference cluzracters throughout the several views. v i

The portion of my improved music roll the left of the imaginary line a, a, coni rzns structurally and functionally with the ordinary music roll clesiqned for use in connection with player pianos and in which the perforations 1 vary in length in accordance with the length of the notes, whereby the duration or the sound may be electrlcally I controlled in a manner Well known and understood by all. who are familiar With the arts relating to perforate music rolls or player pianos Further description of this portion of the music roll is therefore deemed unnecessary. My improved music roll, however, has ahorller which prefc'ably comprises an integral portion B upon which the music is printed in the following manner, whereby it may be readily followed by any musician familiar with ordinary musical notation. flu order that the music may be read. in synchronism with the operation of the player piano without confusion, I divide th stall into fragments. The initial. portion 5 contains the treble and bass clefs and any conventional index matter all arranged in exactly the same form as in an ordinary song book or music sheet. This portion of the staff also contains the initial note for each part to be sung or played. For eX- ample, if the music he a solo, one note in the treble clef will appear, and in such case, the bass clef and the portion of the staff pertaining thereto, will of course be omitted. But if the mus ai selection he a quartet, the i Litial. notes Wlil be arranged on the fragll, as illustrated in Fig. 1'. continuing the staff along in the manner in which i T m .uzontai the sound of said note by .in the drawings,

fragment 6 of the staff in. position, both longitudinally and laterally offset from the fragment 5, and each subsequentfi'agment of'the

staff

7, 8, 9, l0, 1]. etc, will he simultaneously. ofiset hoth fudinally and laterally from the preceding iragment, each fragment p eferably containing but one note,althoitgh for quick time a plurality of short notes may be displayed on a single fragment of the stall", asillustrated in Fig.

All of the staff fragments pertaining to one measure are grouped, and the initial and final fragments of the measure are co nected by a line 15 which preferably enter longitudinally of the strip to position in line with thctop line of the final fragment of the measure, said line 15 then eat-ending transversely of the strip into cOnn ct-ion or substantial connection with said final fragments; It will a-lsobe observed that the several fragments of the staff are so arranged that the initial fragments of each of the measures will belineally alined upon the strip, the other fragments being successively offset in the same lateral direction therefrom, and the final fragments of the measures will therefore also be in :iineal alinement on the strip but distant laterally from the line occupied by the initial 6 ments 'of the measures. By this arrange ment I am enabled to locate cac'h' treble note delineated on the portion 18 of the strip substantially opposite tothc initial end of the perforation l in the portion A. of the strip which controls the production of such note by the player piano.

lherefore the note as delineated upon the staff fragu'ient will he displayed over the tracker bar l ou sly or substantially simultaneou.

the instrun If all the fragments of the i lineally alined with each other, not be possible unless the staff W on an exceedingly small scale at the multiplicity of lines in continuous series would be confusing to such an extent that it would be impossible for an inay singer to read the music. the staff fragments laterally,

it is obvious that tion of the staff may be read greater facility than it can be ordinary music sheet or page of a'sonn" book. This is true, not only for themeason that each fragment of the staff is distinctl; separated from the preceding andisuc" fragments and ordinarily contains 7 note or set of notes to he siniu sounded, but also to the. fact set of notes to he sounded are those which tracker bar which operates as find r tilcl thus select. for the singer the specific part to he sunr given time. Therefore,

i even then even read from the or the miis'zt in ordinary printed the instrument. I

away from the music has the place found for him by the instrument when he again looks to the music sheet for guidance.

Owing to the fact that the measures are unitary not only by arrangement of the fragments upon the shoot, but by the positive connection through line my improvement greatly facilitates keeping time and accent, it being pomible for the musician to concentrate the mind upon one and only one portion of the printed music sheet or strip.

ll hile I have illustrated the several fragments of the staff as so arranged or printed upon the section B of the music roll as to l the medium of tit!!- taneously with the initial production of the sound by the instrument, it will of course be understood that this specific arrangement is not absolutely essential, since some musicians may prefer to have the note displayed over the tracker har slightly in advance of the sounding of the note by the instrument. This therefore is a matter of choice to be determined in accordance with the desires of the average musician.

Owing to the fact that the printed music may be more readily followed than. in-the ordinary music sheet or book by reason of the linder feature, whereby each note is displayed upon or in a definite relation to the tracker har simultaneously with the prothe instrument may b8 COI1tI'OllGd at pleasure and the production of the music accelerated, retarded, stopped or the roll rewound from any desired point. Therefore any given portion of the music may. be succesly re jiroduced for thebcnclit of the singer a; often as may be desired, l he singer a;- accomnani not only has a visual display 1;, 11') iar as any given note or portion thereof is concerned, but for his additionl guidance the note itself is simultaneously sounded by eferr iugnow to Fig. 2, it will be. ob-

seiredyl tat the entire musical scale is disi frayed in a sinzleineasure with cachfrag merit of the scale containing one full note. The lateral offset of each tragment from the 2 eceding is in this View comparatively t is the notes are full notes and the per- :tir as 1' on the portion 2. of the sheet long, the several notes being produced in very slow time.

' 3 l have illustrated an L121 to that shown in Fig. I

arrangel but in unite with the time in which music to For slow time pieces,

be played. each fragment may be laterally will i: from the preceding: one in much l {)?()Pil'l1l0il the]: in the quiet: lime pie In the latter, the lateral ellsetting; leatu 'e is preferably Mi-- eentusleih the \niicms fi'agzjnients e f each member being Etll' lllg'l'lfid along it line which has :1 much grea er lateral inelinutien, thus avoiding; the 001:? ion '"l .hll 1 WOlll l result if the fragments were lneufgl t close l iIOQLHlHll l vi iesgwe'nd with the sequence elf slimt wilful-zit; s Will. mt iiiez'ensed lateral la sepzmitimi. The .etien may also be gagjed to indicate at a gglnnee the time in whieh the piece er any portion 01' it is tobe played. (h ring to the i Ylll hurt that my inventl templates the dis lay m each l l'it the musie in registry with the trziclce the time the displayed notes ll'Q to be smmded" it is nlse desirable that the words or syllables to be sung in neeui'npzmiment with. the music shall be simultaneously displayed in substantially the same relative position to the tracker her. The subdivision of each measuz'e inte fragments enellles me te de this vitlumt dilf words bein Y printed at one side be displayed frag ments each displayed word 0:? syllable llarw ing the note 01 set of netes which it represe'ts), pii upon the gment 0'? the stall in registry therewith. In'tlie illustrated embmlin'ieht of Ly inven ie the wilds or, syllables are 131" ltQCl at ti 1 left of the i-espeetive sizli'l fmggz'zients and the sueeessive fragments in e211 1. measure 4, the initial fragments Qe- U left hand. peslitimii. in Tl 2n ngementlis we wanted as the n'msie may be move easily read hm left to l'lfl1l lJl lS ezu'b nst nee ion of re: 1 ll; will be uhsen l tl'iut my invention pre- (ides feithe ol? the ordinary standard slat? .v'll'll eongentienally printed notss and that the initial fragi'nent ef each measure linezilly alined with the initial fragments of the succeeding measures, the other fragments being progressively offset both lineally' and. laterally, not only fer the purpose of transversely eliningg" than with the initial portions of the respective perforations re resenting tile nsl but else fer the purpose ef enabling me to print the music in such in 111 thet it an, be. easily read and to print hein g the 1mm;

the will? and syllables 015 the s to in thl" the several elements 01. Whether eemprising a mziy be printed in PM spending note and several verses may fore be printed. upeii the same border out IJOKllEllSlOlL The cem'espsntling el of eaelivei se are grouped adjacent note to which each such elemei'it rela. es, ant 215 the smceessi (5 elements are eil'set laterally as well as lineall in each measur itial Wei-Ll 01' syllable in eaqll be readily distinguished liei'n the ing elements and it will also spliced :l'fi'enl the initial rel: le the pres mg; and sheet-films measures. I am tl3il:l ilZ() e1? only print the sevelwl fragw manner to meid. any possible can but also to print the elements 01 meets the diil'ei'entlines er stzqnssu Kill a manner that several printed Uphill/lie same eel-(le of T music sheet witheut dill of either 'Wlilklllli notes, the perfemtiens or the other ilOlnGDtS the son I claim Li. A perlinute music sheet having selies 0f peritemtiens, each adspte; to control the produetion oi a note in musical scale, and an iinperfm'ate border portion of RlCl at one side of the perforated poi-hen be" provided with a .n'msice stiillilivicled in fragments, each of which is lllleilll? efi'set from these which immediately pieeetle and succeed it, and ezieli. at which carries mete in a position to be exposed ever the tracker baa: of a, player piano substantially in Jlv elnrenism with the initial pertien 32m?- femtisn in the music sheet control}ing the productien of the same note by the instru" ment, the lines of'snid. staff fragments being disposed transversely the sheet.

2 A perforate musie sheet, pi'oviile l with {in imperferzite border portion having there'- on a musical stall subdivided irate fragments each prevklesly with s printed nets and with. said lire TilllZS eennectetl by greup lines form m lFl'L'6S -l1Cl1 of the frag-2 ments eomposing a i'nensnre lmvii its lines disposed transversely [XE the sheet lat ordinary DillltGCl music. Jemlly and llneslly ofiset from the atheist and the mitisil tragmen's of ths reassures;

bei ng li'nea'lly alined with each other.

A perforate music sheet provided with a border portion having thereon a musical staff having transversely disposed lines and subdlvmed into fragments, each fragment carrying a nete in a spe ifi miation t0 and 1 25 substantially alined vith a perforation in the sheet controlling the production on the instrument of the same note, said fragments being grouped to form measures having the initial and final fragments connected by.

group lines, eachof the fragments composing' a measure being lineally and laterally oif'set from the others.

A. perforate music sheet provided with aorder portion having thereon a musical scale having transversely disposed lines subdivided into fragments, said fragments beproduced by the corresponding perforations.

mg arranged in groups, each group constituting a measure, and the several fragments composing a group being offset f rom each other along a diagonal line, -each fragment ca ying a note in a position-for exposure 0 .r the tracker bar of a player piano substantiaily simultaneously with the initial portion of a perforation controlling the pro duction of the same note by the instrument.

A perforate music roll for piano players, including the combination with a portion of the roll havin perforations, of a border portion, .provi ed with a musical scale having transversely disposed staff. lines, subdivided into fragments, with each fragment containing staif bars and a note and located on the roll above and laterally oz'fset from the preceding fragment, lines connectin the fragments together in groups,

- each group constituting a measure, and each fragment being substantially horizontally alincd with the initi portion of the perforation controlling operation of the instrument to produce the note or notes appearing on the fragment.

6, A perforate music sheet having a series of perforations, each adapted to control the production of a note in a musical scale, and a hordei' portion of said sheet being provided With a musical staff divided into fragments, each of which has transversely disposed sta-fi' lines and is lineally offset from those which immediately precede and succoed it, and each of Which carries a note in a position to be exposed over the tracker bar of a player-piano substantially in synchronisin with the initial portion of a perforation in the music sheet controlling the produetion of the same note by the instrument,

suit sheet having thereon printed Words or and the other fra" ing positioned for successive exposure over the tracker bar substantially simultaneously With the notes carried by the fragments and 7.. A perforate music sheet, provided with an imperforate border portion, having therenote corresponding in value with one of the )erforations and said fra ments being grouped to form measures, the initial fragments of each measure being lineally alined,

ients of each measure being progressively ollsct both laterally and lineally therefrom, said border being also provided with the printed Words of a song arranged with the elements of each "erse comprising a word or syllable, laterally 01fset in each measure and lineally alined with the corresponding elements of the other verses,.and also ar anged in. proximity to the corresponding staff fragment and note.

8. .A. perforate music sheet provided with an imperforate border portion having print-v ed thereon the Words of a song, so arranged that the initial Words or syllables composing a measure are lineally alinel with each other with the corresponding words or syllables of successive verses, the other Words and syllables of each measure being progressively offset both laterally and lineally, whereby confusion of the Words of the so erai verses is avoided and the WOI'ClS located to correspond with the perforations which produce the notes to which the respective Words are sung.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK C. BILLINGS.

Witnesses Lnvnus'rr G. WHEELER, Irma Bonanza.