I started implementing keyboard tablature in my software Fandango, but
the need is so little and editing so complicated that I did not really
complete it fully. German Keyboard tab is like German tab in that groups
of notes hang from the top line, but letters indicate pitch rather than
fret position, using the A-H alphabetical sequence. Additionally, there
are two types of rhythm flags: one at the top similar to lute tablature
flags, and individual flags for notes within a chord indicating how long
that specific note is sustained. Tablature was usually reserved for the
left hand, while the top part was in regular notation (as shown in the
video). Various systems were used to indicate which octave the note
belonged to: A, a, a' or ''a, or lines over the note. The system is
logically simple but a real challenge to read, particularly when you add
messy hand-writing using old German characters... (Buxtehude comes to mind)
I thinks is the same system was used for harp tablature - as in the ap
Huw MS - the main advantage being to indicate which note is played with
which hand.
For another mixed system notation/tablature, see modern accordion
tablature:
http://www.accordeondiatonique.fr/comment-lire-une-tablature-accordeon-diatonique/
Spanish keyboard tablature was completely different if I recall... using
numbers corresponding to the keys on the keyboard. See
http://www.organ.byu.edu/Bush_Library/Bush%20Files/Buxheimer%20Orgelbuch/Tablature%20notes.pdf
A fascinating and very arcane subject. I am not sure what the advantage
of a-h notation for the left hand may have been, but that system did
survive for a couple centuries... Quicker to jot down perhaps?
Alain
On 05/26/2017 06:03 AM, keith barnhart wrote:
Hello Rainer,
I read German lute tab but not keyboard (yet!). I am fascinated by the
system for sure although it is very hard to understand. Here is a short
primer video that I found which doesn't explain in full but might start
to help.
[1]https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/from-ink-to-sound/1/steps/51193
Also, I would be happy to take a swing at a small piece to get some
experience working in it if you want.
Best,
Keith
On Fri, May 26, 2017 at 6:09 AM Rainer <[2]rads.bera_g...@t-online.de>
wrote:
Dear lute netters,
I would like to check a concordance which is in (shudder) German
keyboard tablature.
Can anybody read it?
Rainer
PS
I have everything as digital facsimile
To get on or off this list see list information at
[3]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
--
Keith Barnhart
Little Piggy Productions LLC
[4]little-piggy.com
303-917-4302
--
References
1. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/from-ink-to-sound/1/steps/51193
2. mailto:rads.bera_g...@t-online.de
3. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
4. http://little-piggy.com/
