The Emergence of Efficient Musical Texts during the Age of Reason

Modern Western musical notation is “efficient” in the sense that every element of a text corresponds to an essential composition represented and valid performance composition. became efficient only during eighteenth century. Previously, much music — especially for solo instrument small ensemble operated on pretextual, oral principles: it was performed communities dominated by celebrated performer/composers who re-created compositions with each performance; their students were taught perform this quasi-improvisational way. In such circumstances, could be many different texts. Notation when increasing numbers recreational amateurs required did not have learned realizing texts literally. Printers composers accommodated them. As efficient, stable entities defined established composers.