WO1988010483A1

WO1988010483A1 - Device for the display of musical information

Info

Publication number: WO1988010483A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Callanan
Original assignee: VICTORIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Corp
Current assignee: VICTORIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Corp
Priority date: 1987-06-15
Filing date: 1988-06-15
Publication date: 1988-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-15

Abstract

Indicator comprising overlaid sheets in the form of a rear sheet (1), a front sheet (3) and an intermediate disc-like sheet (2). Disc-like sheet (2) is rotatable relative to sheets (1) and (3). Disc-like sheet (2) has various musical notes printed thereon in a predetermined pattern and musical key identifiers. A selected one of the key identifiers is rendered visible in an opening (24) in sheet (3) when the disc-like sheet is rotated to a particular respective angular position. Then, selected ones of the musical notes printed on the disc-like sheet (2) appear in further openings, (26), (28), (30), (32), (36), (38), (44), (46), (48) and (50) in sheet (3) to display musical information such as scales and various chords associated with the selected key.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE DISPLAY OF MUSICAL INFORMATION

This invention is described in the following statement : This invention relates to an indicator capable of shewing certain finite sequences, combinations, permutations, series or the like, of indicia related to a selected datum, and an object of the invention is to provide an indicator or reckoner adapted to provide at a glance information relating to musical sounds singly or in combination, such as chords and scales and other melodic sequences related to any given key-note as datum so as to afford a complete or substantially complete picture of conventionally used scales, chords and progressions appropriate to each key of the chromatic scale.

With this object in view the invention, in one form, provides an indicator in the general form of a revolving planisphere or like device including a plurality of discs plates cards or other laminar elements secured together face-to-face in a multiple sandwich-like arrangement. One or more of the elements e.g. the first and last or the outermost elements may be relatively fixed, and two or more may be relatively movable e.g. by rotation about a central pivot stud passing through all elements. Matter printed on an index or card is arranged to be selectively exposed by windows or apertures in a top element to which the card is relatively movable, or by windows or apertures in a plurality of the other elements which are themselves relatively movable to bring said apertures into appropriate registration.

If the index card is rotatable (be it circular or otherwise) portion thereof may protrude beyond one or more registering marginal edges of other elements, to provide convenient tactile means for advancing or retarding the disc between "stations".

The invention may be considered to provide a convenient indicator for showing musical notes relevant to a preselected key-datum and including relatively movable elements one of which may be a disc printed over whole or part of its area with letters or other indicia denoting the names of musical notes (with, where necessary, appropriate prefixes denoting sharp (#), flat natural double

sharp (x), double-flat etc.) the indicia being disposed

in a way which at first sight may appear to be quite random, but which are specially arranged and adapted to be selectively exposed to view by the other element or elements. Another or others of said elements may therefore have or define a number of apertures windows fenes trations or perforations which, again, may out of context appear to be disposed quite at random but which, when the device is assembled for use, are capable of disclosing, in a logical and consistent fashion, certain selected letters information or other indicia carried by the disc, and of blocking off all other such indicia.

At least some of the indicia may be printed in scale or other sequential form along straight or curved lines related to a direction of relative movement between the elements. The elements may assume a number of discrete relative positions or stations (preferably twelve, one for each key of the chromatic scale) in each of which the windows disclose the notes appropriate to the relevant key.

The windows or apertures in the top cover member or element may include groups or sequences of small circular apertures each capable of exposing exactly one letter, numeral or other indicium on the index card. For example, in a first station of the index relative to the top element, a first sequence of apertures may expose the letters C D E F G A B C being one octave of the C major scale. Other sequences or groups may indicate minor and/or other scales.

Further groups may show various chordal combinations. Curvilinear, looped or lassoo-form groups correspond to scales (such as the "melodic minor") which differ between ascending and descending modes. Some apertures may be common to one or more groups. For example, the first three of a "dominant seventh" group of four apertures which in the first (C major) station indicate G B D and F, may also be marked "dominant chord" to indicate G, B and D, being the dominant triad of C major. Also the top and the lowest five notes of the melodic minor "lassoo" may be common to the corresponding harmonic minor scale.

From a more general aspect, the invention may be regarded as the combination of an index disc or card defining a pole or centre about which it is rotatable relatively to a superimposed mask defining means precisely located with respect to said pole so as selectively to disclose indicia in a plurality of key-stations. Consider the aforementioned example of the major scale. The eight notes will be disclosed through a suitable arrangement of eight windows in the cover. Consider imaginary datum radii fixed on the cover and disc respectively and extending from their common pole. Denote these by OP and OQ respectively, OP being "horizontal" on the cover, and such that in the key of C station, OQ coincides with OP.

Consider further that the eight windows aforesaid have their centres defined by polar co-ordinates r, θ relative to OP. Let r' θ^l be the polar co-ordinates of symbols on the disc, relative to OQ. Then the polar co-ordinates (r' θⁱ ) of the relevant notes C D E F G A B C on the disc will be identical with those of the corresponding apertures.

Now imagine the disc turned clockwise through an angle of 30° to the C sharp station. The windows must now show:

C# D# E#(F) F# G# A# B#(C) and C#, and as the disc datum radius OQ is now at -30° (the negative sign denoting clockwise turning), the disc co-ordinates of the latter groups of symbols will be r' θ^l where r' = r but θ^l

is increased by 30° in the positive (anti-clockwise) direction away from OQ.

The process can be continued in like manner. Evidently the card indicia corresponding to each key will have to be shown "turned" so as to be seen "upright" when the disc is "on station".

To pursue the matter in more generality, consider a disc required to show notes for key-stations K₁ and K₂, the latter representing a turn through - radian from

the former - where n is the number of semitones difference between K₁ and K₂. Then if a symbol S₁ of disc co-ordinates r'_l θ^l be disclosed in K₁, the disc must bear a symbol S₂ at r', θ^l + πn/6, S₂ denoting the note which is n semitones above S₁, and being printed as "turned" through the angle (+) πn/6 relative to S₁.

Thus if K₁ = E1 S₁ = G# and K₂ - B, it follows that n = 8 and the required turn through (or (+)

which amounts to the same thing) will disclose the note S₂ = 8 semitones above (or 4 semitones below) G# , which is E. Therefore the disc must be printed, at equal radii, with the notes G# and E spaced by the angle 120°, and relatively "turned" by the same angle.

Where the device is required to show a sequential group such as a scale (as distinct from a non-sequential group such as a chord), appropriate arrows may be drawn on the cover from one window to another. It will be seen that in general the symbols lie on imaginary spiral lines on the disc.

It will also be seen that the device can cover all fifteen "normal" key signatures (up to and including seven sharps or flats) but taking into account three "double" stations, the total number of stations is 12. A disc sector of about 30° may project laterally from the edge-lines of the cover sections so that a simple downward movement of the user's index finger along the edge will turn the index card through 30° to the next station. Thus if the device be already set at A station, for example, then a downward finger movement along the right edge turns the disc clockwise to the B flat station, whereas a similar movement applied to the left would have turned the disc counter-clockwise to the A flat station.

If desired, infra-red "bar-coding" can be invisibly printed over the indicia so that by using a code pen, signal linearizer, wave converter, decoder, audio and/or visual signal producer, the notes corresponding to exposed indicia can be rendered audible and/or visible, or memory-stored, by in or through any suitable electronic or other appropriate medium. In this regard it will be appreciated that if the disclosure means in the cover section are windows (rather than apertures), the cover can itself provide a continuous tracing or scanning surface for the pen. However if the cover be apertured, it may be necessary to fit the apertures with snap-in plastics or like lenses or like inserts having a top surface co-planar with the upper surface of the cover. The lower or under surface of the lens may if desired be convex so as effectively to magnify the indicia on the index card. For test or examination purposes, wholly or partially opaque inserts can be substituted for the lenses. Our music indicator devices can be made in any desired size. A giant-size teaching, demonstration or concert model could form a backdrop for a stage upon which an instrumentalist plays notes e.g. on a clarinet. The indicator could be set to a desired key and the succession of notes as played could be sensed by known audio-electrical-visual contrivances (such as the "INCONSOR") causing the relevant windows and indicia to light up so as to afford a visual demonstration of the note(s) being played. Simultaneously, by known means, the notes could be represented on a giant "stave" e.g. on the front panel of the stage. A further development could provide for the indicator to turn automatically to indicate such keys as is determined by any notes played within a prescribed time interval. For example, if an organist were to play the notes G, B, D and F either simultaneously i.e. as a chord, or in any sufficiently rapid sequence or permutation, the indicator could be caused to turn automatically to "C major" and indicate those notes as the "dominant seventh".

In like manner our indicator could be incorporated into injection-moulded music stand back-plates with an extruded book-supporting rail across the bottom.

A keyboard could, for example, be depicted on the upper cover and upon touching the "keys" by the coder pen or otherwise, the appropriate tones may be heard or otherwise made manifest through audio, visual or other means. Also, a music manuscript stave could be provided. This may be a self-erasing stick-on panel e.g. of white vinyl, and a self-erasing pen facility can be provided for. test writing. Other areas can be reserved for finger-charts, trade marks, logos, licensing etc. Printed matter may be in one or more languages, as deemed desirable or necessary. The device may further be provided with mechanical means or accessories such as apertures, clips, terminals, attachments or the like to enhance or limit the use of the device e.g. by franchisees, exclusive lincencees etc. who might thereby be enabled to "clip on" to a suitably spaced and located arrangement of apertures.

The entire device could be regarded as a "microchip" or as a pattern for a microchip to be used in (other) musical devices or instruments.

Our "musical planisphere" brings together and represents in a relatively small space many basic formulae theorems patterns and structures of music. Of the countless possible ways of selecting musical scales from the whole gamut of audible frequencies and of the many scales known to musicians and historians, it is recognized that the modern "equally tempered" diatonic and chromatic scales offer very extensive possibilities for inter alia harmonizing melodies and for wide scope of modulations between keys. Our device provides not only a convenient "ready - reckoner" but assists in composing, transcription and modulation in and into a wide range of keys.

Our device may be packaged in a suitable box sleeve or jacket suitably shrink-wrapped or blister-backed as desired. The packaging may be used for displaying elementary music essentials such as definitions, note- and rest-values, keyboards, time symbols, general chord information etc.

If desired the device could be adapted such that the upper face is represented by a whole wall of e.g. a recording and/or teaching studio e.g. as a "video music school" for teaching any keybaord or melodic instrument. It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple device or teaching and/or learning aid whereby, with very few relatively movable parts, one may see at a glance a logical and complete or substantially complete picture of conventionally used scales, chords and progressions appropriate to each key of the chromatic scale. The invention confers upon the music student a measure of facility in visualizing note and chord and necessary basic knowledge at a speed commensurate with his mental capacity and co-ordination, while for the time being disregarding selected material until a later stage. The need for chalk, blackboards and other writing materials is substantially reduced. Fundamentals of music theory often tend to degenerate into a mystique of jargon and mumbojumbo. The invention renders the student less at the mercy of pedagogues, musical charlatans and others who are all too ready to impart incomplete or inaccurate knowledge, or who are unable to communicate clearly and concisely.

The device may also be used to advantage by the members of bands, "combos" or like groups with selected indicia or apertures marked off with regard to notes to be played by the respective instruments.

For the purposes of this specification expressions such as "top", "underside", "underface", "underneath", "height", "width", "upward" and "downward" are to be understood, unless otherwise clearly indicated, to refer to the device in a position of use, and are not, therefore, to be regarded as necessarily limiting.

The invention is described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a first form of the music indicator.

Figure 2 is a top view of the music indicator of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the music indicator of figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view of a rotatable disc incorporated into the music indicator of figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the rotatable disc of figure 4.

Figures 6 & 7 are respective opposite side views of the music indicator of figure 1.

Figure 8 is a front view of a second form of the music indicator.

Figure 9 is a top view of the music indicator of figure 8.

Figure 10 is a front view of a third form of the music indicator.

Figure 11 is a front view of a rotatable disc incorporated into the music indicator of figure 10. Referring firstly to figures 1 to 7, the music indicator shown comprises three overlaid sheets, these being in the form of a rear sheet 1, a front sheet 3 and an intermediate disc-like sheet 2. The sheets 1 and 3 are rectangular in form and are held together at corners thereof by eyelets 4.

Disc-like sheet 2 is of circular configuration and is held to, and rotatable relative to, sheets 1 and 3 by an axial eyelet 14 which passes through all three sheets 1, 2 and 3.

The disc-like sheet 2 is shown in more detail in figures 4 and 5 as having spaced cutout portions 21 around the periphery thereof to facilitate rotation thereof relative to the sheets 1 and 3.

Although the sheets 1 and 3 are generally of large enough dimension to completely encompass the disclike sheet 2, the sheets 1 and 3 do have, at opposite sides thereof, cutout portions 17 at which the periphery of the disk-like sheet 2 is exposed, for manual manipulation of the disc-like sheet 2 to enable it to be rotated relative to sheets 1 and 3. Twelve indexing marks 15 are provided on the periphery of the disc-like sheet 2 to cooperate with corresponding indexing marks 16 on the sheet 3, at the front thereof, so that, by alignment of a mark 16 with a mark 15, the relative rotational position of the disc-like sheet 2 can be set as desired to any one of twelve locations.

Disc-like sheet 2 has, on the upper surface thereof, a number of markings (not shown) in the form of musical notes which are visible through various apertures in the front sheet 3, different ones of these musical note markings being visible when the disc-like sheet 2 is rotated to particular rotational positions. For example there are twelve key signature notations A, B^b, C^b/B, C, C^#/D^b, D, E^b, E, F, F^#/G^b, G, A^b. These are spaced around the sheet 2 at equally spaced locations and when a pair of index marks 15, 16 are brought into alignment, a particular one of the markings just described appears in a larger opening 24 in sheet 3.

The sheet 2 further includes fifteen sets of eight markings, one set corresponding to each of the aforementioned key signature markings. Ones of each set of such further markings appear in a set of eight openings 26 in sheet 3 to indicate the notes of the musical scale which has been selected when a particular key signature marking appears at the opening 24. There are also a further fifteen sets of eight notes marked on the disc-like sheet 2, ones of these appearing in eight further openings 28 in the sheet 3 to indicate the relative harmonic minor scale corresponding to the key which is selected by positioning of a key marking in the opening 24. The melodic minor scale is indicated by using certain of the apertures 28, together with additional apertures 30 in which appear, at each position of the disc-like sheet 2, the particular notes making up such scale and which are not common to the melodic minor scale. The name of the relative minor chord corresponding to any selected key, on rotation of disc-like sheet 2, is indicated by a marking on the disc-like sheet 2 which appears at an opening 32 in the sheet 3. The notes comprising the major chord of the key selected appear in openings 36, with the additional notes necessary to form the major seventh chord based on that major chord, the tonic seventh chord so based, and the major sixth chord so based, appearing at three openings 38. The notes making up the relative minor chord appear in the opening 32, together with the first of the openings 36, and a further opening 40. The notes making up the sub-dominant chord of the key selected appear in three openings 44 and the notes dominant seventh chord corresponding to the selected key appear in four openings 46. The diminished seventh chord and augmented chord based on the start note for the key selected appear respectively in four openings 48 and four openings 50.

As mentioned, all of the indicated notes marked on the disc-like sheet 2 appear, for the selected key, on rotation of the disc-like sheet 2 to select that key.

The front of the sheet 3 also has two sets of markings 56 for writing of musical notes thereon as the user may require. Preferably, at least the front surface of the sheet 3 containing these markings is covered with a material permitting a water-based ink pen to be used thereon, so that notes marked by the user may be readily erased as required.

The rear of sheet 1 contains various musical information of use in general theory, or in using the music indicator of the invention.

The arrangement shown in figures 8 and 9 is similar to that described in figures 1 to 7, save that the sheet 1 has two side extensions in the form of generally rectangular portions 60, which are capable of being folded about fold line 62 (where these join the remainder of sheet 1) such as forwardly to facilitate standing of the music indicator on a surface. The various apertures or openings, or windows as previously described in which various items of musical information appear may be identified in any way desired. Figure 10 shows an indicator device 80 constructed in accordance with the invention and on which one particular scheme of markings is employed. Structurally, the indicator device 80 is the same as that shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 shows an inner disc 2 (to a larger scale) useful with the indicator device 80. This shows the particular style of marking of musical notes thereon.

The lettering may be coated by "Celosheen" or like material.

For some purposes, it may be found convenient to use a fibre or similar washer for the pivot.

Evidently the symbols can be varied as appropriate. For example for "German" nomenclature it may be necessary to show B^b as B and B as H.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Indicator comprising a front sheet having apertures or windows therein and a rotatable disc-like sheet therebeneath having an indicia thereon, the disc-like sheet being movable to align the indicia thereon in a fashion such that, for each of a number of possible musical keys, information concerning a selected one of the keys appears in openings or windows in the front sheet.

2. Indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information comprises the identity of notes of the major scale based on the selected key, the identity of notes comprising the relative minor scale(s) and the identity of notes making up one or more chords associated with the selected key.

3. Indicator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 having infra red bar coding invisibly printed over indicia thereon containing said information, so that by using code reading means the musical notes corresponding to exposed indicia can be rendered audible and/or visible, or memory stored.