718 



TYPOGRAPHY. 



Fig. 5. 



tirely with the common staff-lines of the musical scale, 

 and also with the note characters. The seven tones 

 (tin re mi fa tol la si ) are indicated by the initial let- 

 ters, d, r, m, f, 8, 1, and t, printed in bold, plain-faced 

 type. An upper tone is distinguished from the one 

 an octave below it by means of an accent mark printed 

 above_ the initial letter which indicates the note. By 

 combinations of these initial letters any musical chord 

 may be represented readily enough, while the time, the 

 value of the several notes, the rests, pauses, slurs, etc. , 

 are represented by similar typographical expedients, 

 which are not difficult to master. 



Another idea which has been developed in various 

 forms is that of indicating the tone by the peculiar 

 shape of the note-head, the theory being that the 

 shape of the note-head, together with its distinctive 

 position on the staff, makes a double appeal to the 

 eye of the musician and renders the note more readily 

 identified. Otic of the must ingenious of these sys- 

 tems is that introduced by Jesse B. Aikin. an Ameri- 

 can, who contrived a different shaped note-head for 

 each of the seven tones, round, semi-circular, rect- 

 angular, diamond-shaped, and triangular forms, all be- 

 ing employed in his mcthnd. In all of tlirsc devices 

 the shape of the note-head is the main distinguishing 

 failure, the staff lines still being retained generally 

 (though tin- idea theoretically permits of their aban- 

 donment), and the values of the several notes being 

 represented by note-stems, dots, etc., as in the pre- 

 vailing system. 



In Aikin's system the seven characters employed 

 are as follows : 



. >.* 



do re mi fa sol la ri 



The smallest type, beginning 

 at the top of the figure, is known 

 as "Excelsior 'i," and the 

 others, in the order in 

 which they are shown in 

 the plate, are " Kscel- 

 sior Music," " Dia- 

 mond,"" Diamond 

 3," " Diamond 

 2," "Agate 3," 

 and " Non- 

 pareil 3." 



say, can you see 





say, can you see 



say, can 

 Fig. 6. 



you 



see 



(H. P.) 



