As a part of Longy’s 2020 Digital Divergent Studio, I am presenting my research on Tablature and Prescriptive Notation.

In 1958 Charles Seeger coined the terms ‘prescriptive and descriptive’ notation, defining prescriptive notation most simply as “a blue-print of how a specific piece of music shall be made.” However, composers had long before utilized elements of prescriptive notation. This presentation examines the roots of tablature and prescriptive notation, looking at music by Henry Cowell, John Cage, Heinz Holliger, Giorgio Netti, and Aaron Cassidy.