Johnston–Copper notation: Difference between revisions

added illustrations
continuing to define the notation
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[[File:Johnston Q401.png|thumb|System from String Quartet #4 by Ben Johnston]]
[[File:Johnston Q401.png|thumb|System from String Quartet #4 by Ben Johnston]]
An example from Johnston shows the use of a form of a 'neutral' sign.  [[Johnston Quartet 4 -01]] and an example from Copper shows the same usage with a somewhat altered symbol.
An example from Johnston shows the use of a form of a 'neutral' sign.  [[Johnston Quartet 4 -01]] and an example from Copper shows the same usage with a somewhat altered symbol.
In Johnston's hand-engraved score the neutral sign looks somewhat like a thick dash or hyphen; in Copper's notation, made with [[scor4]] the Score engraving program, it is an arrow with a flag at the top (used for the 'down one comma' neutral indication).  Both are used for exactly the same purpose: in C major, Johnston's score, the note D if unaltered would sound too high, since it is tuned by default as a perfect fifth above the G according to the three 4:5:6 chords. in beginning as he does, he wants the D to be tuned lower and in fact, tuned exactly to the open D string.  In D major, Copper's score, the equivalent note is an E , a perfect fifth above the A according to the same three 4:5:6 chords in D major; and for the same reason, the note E if unaltered would sound too high in bar 3 if not altered down by a comma.