Abstract: In this paper Prof. Treitler explores some of the principal themes of this conference: uncertainty of interpretation in transcribing source manuscripts; problems in classifying neume notation types; segmentation of a chant along textual criteria; and so on. Among the key points he raises are: that musical notation ought to be regarded as "notational text" (or, writing without words); that notational signs might represent not the song, but rather the singing of it ... or even something that has no real counterpart beyond the notation itself; and that a transcriber needs to "know" the notator. Included is an example of the analysis done by Max Haas on a corpus of chant.

Abstract: Prof. Caldwell proposes a new classification scheme for types of Western chant notation. His method focuses on the characteristic features of fundamentally different approaches to the scribal problem of notating chant. The result is a simple, easy-to-understand taxonomy that avoids many of the problems inherent to earlier schemes that classify notations by geographical region, historical period, and/or religious congregation.

Audio: Excerpts from John Caldwell's presentation at the 'NEUMES 2006' conference.
Requirements: JavaScript enabled in your browser; a Flash® player installed in your browser.

See, graphics to accompany "On the classification of Western styles of neumation."

Abstract
Many different visualizations (or, data views) of a NEUMES/NeumesXML transcription are possible. The canonical visualization is intended to be the 'standard' or default method of viewing transcriptions graphically in a Web browser. The document object model we are using is comprised of XSLT, JavaScript, and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), with output in HTML format. This script is designed to be executable entirely on the client-side (i.e., by the end-user's browser), such that transcriptions may be located anywhere on the Web (or even on the end-user's hard drive). The only dependency is that the end-user's browser must have access to this XSLT definition file and associated files. (In principle, these files could be replicated in many places on the Web.)

Currently, however, most browsers do not handle XSL Transformations correctly, and so this part of the model normally is executed on the Project's Scribe server. We expect, however, that the next generation of browser technology will allow XSL Transformations to be done on the client-side, and preclude this dependency on a particular server. (For instance, there is currently a task force in the Mozilla browser project who are working on integration of XSLT support into Mozilla.)

Remarks
The beta-test visualization is intended mainly for use by our Project team in testing the underlying software and for verifying NEUMES character data. Further, we intend that (in keeping with the Project's policy of openness) the public can inspect the current state of progress in the Project. Please note, however, that we are not claiming that the beta-test visualization generates a "diplomatic facsimile" of source artifacts -- although this is our goal.

This definition file depends on the XSLT Utilities for NeumesXML [q.v.].
The current version works with the NeumesXML Schema 2.3. The transform uses the SAX document-processing model (viz., sequential access, event-driven).

Remarks: The utilities are fully documented on the XSLT Utilities for NeumesXML page [HTML view], including technical details about how to use these utilities.

Remarks: We expect that transforms will eventually be done on the client-side by the next generation of Web browsers (and eliminate this dependency on the Scribe server); in the meantime, however, we shall continue providing this functionality on the Scribe server for browsers that do not process XSLT correctly.

Remarks: Our purpose in creating Java sourcecode files from the Schema is for use in dynamically generating parts of the data-entry program. These sourcecode files were generated using XMLBeans version 1.0.4. (Compilation of this Schema to Java sourcecode does not work in XMLBeans version 2.0.0.)

To compile the NeumesXML Schema for Eastern chant sources, execute the following from the command line:
  scomp -dl -src NeumesXML_east_src -srconly NeumesXML_east.xsd

To compile the NeumesXML Schema for Western chant sources, execute the following from the command line:
  scomp -dl -src NeumesXML_west_src -srconly NeumesXML_west.xsd
 

Remarks: This program was deprecated with the migration of NeumesXML from DTD to XML Schema. It is no longer in use.

Remarks: This is a 'throw-away' prototype of the data-entry program. We have abandoned it, since it did not meet our design criteria: principally as follows.
(a) It is platform-dependent, in that it was written in the C# ™ programming language (instead of the platform-independent Java™ language) and is intimately tied to a Microsoft .NET ™ server running Windows XP ™ and IIS 5 ™.
(b) The program can be run only on the server-side (whereas the specifications call for a data-entry program that will run on end-users' computers).
(c) Transcriptions must be kept in a database, which breaks the Project's design principle that transcriptions shall be self-contained files, visible as "first-class objects" on the Web.
The sourcecode of this program is provided here just to account for part of the Project expense. This downloadable ZIP file contains all program code and documentation that was delivered under contract. (See, sample screenshot [file size 94 kB] showing the program in operation.)