Customer Reviews

Essential Dictionary of Music Notation: The Most Practical and Concise Source for Music Notation (The Essential Dictionary Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

About 95% of everything you need to know about the mechanics of score writing are in this book. If you score on computer, much of this is taken care of for you, but as you create final versions you want 'correct', this book is essential for the many manual placement items as well as stylistically being clear to the modern musician. I wish I'd had this 10 years ago.

I read this book from cover to cover and learned a lot. It is brief, to-the-point, and doesn't get distracted by addressing theory or orchestration. It's about the notation, pure and simple.

The book is small -- fits into your pocket easily. My single complaint is that the binding is rather cheap. I expect sooner or later pages will begin to come loose - an annoyance for a reference text. On the other hand, at under $10, I guess I can afford to just buy another copy.

This is a useful, short dictionary, probably worth its modest price.

It is by no means a complete reference work on music notation. Instead, it covers most of the basics, and also a more-or-less random, small selection of less basic topics. This is not a guide for reading music; it is a handbook for people preparing notated scores and parts, whether by hand or by computer. It is unlikely to answer all the questions that would come up in notating any reasonably complicated piece of music. It will suffice, however, to notate a simple piece professionally, in either classical or pop/jazz style.

All of the entries accurately describe standard notational practice. Precise guidance is often given as to exact positioning and size, e.g. whether a given articulation is centered on a note stem or a note head, what angle of beam to use for different intervals, and where to place dots. The sections on topics like meter, rests, slurs, and ties are lucid and thorough.

On the other hand, precise guidance is often absent. For example, correct notation of the treble and bass clefs requires knowing that they are also, respectively, a "G" and an "F" clef, and should be positioned in a specific way to mark those pitches. The entry on "glissando" fails to explain how to notate the precise rhythm of a glissando (in the sense of its duration, and at what point in the measure it ends). The positioning of accidentals in chords of more than 3 notes is explained ambiguously, but not illustrated. No guidance at all is given on how to notate an interval of an altered unison (e.g., a B-flat/B-natural pairing.)

Little guidance at all is given on notating wind or percussion parts.

By contrast, several pages are given over to repetitive explanations of the various permutations of "D.C./D.S./coda/fine" combinations. Complete charts of key signatures in treble, bass, alto and tenor clefs use up more pages (even though the pattern is the same in every clef.) Oddities like flutter-pedaling on the piano damper and heel-toe technique on the organ pedals are illustrated. Overall, the choices of what to cover outside of the basics have a random feel.

Large print is used, which means less material is covered, but subtle details of notation are easily seen.

This is a handy little book, including many specifics on music notation, well worth the price. While it may not include everything on notation, its convenient format allows quick answers to many questions regarding formal music notation. I am using it in post-grad composition studies as a quick reference. I'd advise it for all music majors, and anyone with an interest in music writing.

The 'Essential Dictionary of Music Notation' is in pocket-dictionary style allowing cross-referencing and easy-to-find explanations alphabetically. The range of topics covered is large and the amount of detail useful. It allows the book to be useful both to beginners and to professionals. It forgets that most computers can automatically layout pages correctly, for example, and that some of the theory is nowadays irrelevant. But this is good, and often useful to know when writing by hand and when editing.

Illustrations depicts the meaning often. For an example, under 'Articulation' it lists the 5 main types of articulation and then divides them into Durational and Forceful. It then tells you in detail what they all do and how they should be written. Although dynamics are obviously listed in this way, the range and detail of the dynamic, I feel, is inadequate.

The book covers traditional notation as well as TAB, and specialist requirements for certain instruments. 351 pages - for the price the dictionary is excellent. Portable and full of information, which can be easily and quickly understood.

However, the authors don't try to make out that this guide is all you need to know. A larger book would be more detailed. This is well worth it!

I sequence keyboard music and print out for playing enjoyment. I was looking for precise information on notation layout with a view to standardising the hard copies. The 'Essential Dictionary Of Music Notation' certainly fills the bill. It is indeed a great reference, containing information not covered in many related publications. The price is very reasonable and I recommend this product without reservation.

I use this constantly in my piano teaching studio. It is basic, easy to understand, and has large enough print to be read in a hurry. Good for adults and children from age 10 or so.

This little book is amazingly comprehensive for such a tiny volume. Very easy to use, and I can quickly find what I'm after. I keep it beside me when composing, or when writing out parts for choir members.

I bought this along with Read's book, and this one has proved to be the perfect speedy solution to notation questions. It is well organized, informatively illustrated and easy to use. If you compose or engrave for others, you will find this little book invaluable.

Not a bad book for the price. If you are currently learning to read music and need some help understanding basic symbols then this is an excellent little book. I teach music and have run across some symbols that are not very exotic, but still somewhat hard to track down the exact meaning and for that this book has been of little use. But it's been great for explaining and diagramming many other symbols and terminology such as "D.S. al Coda", "Compound Triple Meters", "Caesura", and a long section just on beaming.

I certainly don't regret buying this book and though I have a degree in music doesn't mean I know all there is about musical notation. I have used this book many times to remind me of notation meanings I never knew or had forgotten, and I can usually find what I'm looking for in the index in the back of the book as long as my notational search is not too mysterious. I often run across very old, even ancient musical symbols while teaching classical guitar, and like I stated earlier, this book won't have those in it but it has quite a bit of the modern notational symbols.

This is clear and concise. Topics are organized very well. You can't beat the price. Put this one on your shelf and keep it handy.