NOTES
NOTE A

S. B. Hustvedt, A Melodic Index of Child's Ballad Tunes, Berkeley
(Cal.), 1936; see the notice in Modern Language Review, xxxiii, 1938,
pp. 295-7. For my own convenience I have introduced some modifica-
tions into Mr. Hustvedt's system, due partly to a wish to simplify it
typographically, since it ought to be printed easily, typed without an
abnormal keyboard (though I allow myself foreign accents), and written
by hand without risk of ambiguity; modifications partly due also to the
examination of tunes which are not composed within the limits usual in
English balladry.

The names of notes may be obtained by differences of type and
capitalization whether in print, on a typewriter (preferably with red and
black or blue ribbon), or in handwriting. The middle octave may be
represented by Roman letters: c d e f g a b. One can then obtain the
names of notes in two octaves below and two above by using large
capitals (or underlined capitals), small capitals, roman, italic, italic
capitals: C—B c—B c—b c—b C—B. Some of the notes of the highest
octave are used by Pelay Briz for his Cansons de la Terra, Barcelona-Paris,
1866-87. Generally speaking the range required falls within two octaves
named c—b c—b.

The whole tune may then be transcribed by stating (i) the key, (ii)
the time, (iii) the unit length of note. A rest of any length is indicated
by Y.

The key or mode can be stated simply. As for the time, Hustvedt
recommends writing the two numbers side by side. For the more
complicated Balkan times, involving more than two numbers, a dash or
vertical line would be needed between the halves of the fraction.

The unit length is represented by LT4 US, &c., 4 being a crochet, 8 a
quaver. Most ballad tunes are best transcribed In these units, but one
may also use on occasion a semibreve (Ua) or semiquaver (Ui6), Each
letter of type will therefore be of the length of the unit chosen; for
instance, under US, V is a quaver of that pitch. Dots will lengthen the
note by one unit of length. Under US, V is a crochet, and *c ...' a semi-
breve. To write notes of half the unit length, put them In brackets; '(c)*
under the same circumstances is a semiquaver. It is not usually desirable
to show too many brackets in a transcription, and the main thing to be
kept in mind is to give as brief and clear a formula as possible. In some
eastern tunes there are very rapid trills, which may be omitted for some
purposes, or may be entered in double brackets if necessary. There are
notes spaced with intervals a little greater or less than ours, which may
be indicated by putting a point above or below the letter. There are also
optional trills, of imprecise shape, which may be represented by a line
drawn over one or more notes.

Bars must be entered. Vertical lines serve when the bar is certain (|),