Book excerpt: This is the first book to examine comprehensively the major systems of musical notation proposed during the past three centuries. Illustrating the many attempts to improve upon or replace the traditional system, this important work chronologically lists, describes, and critically analyzes the majority of the proposed reforms that have appeared over the years. No other book now available covers the subject in such depth or detail. It is not only a repository of suggested improvements in notation, but also a historical survey of the efforts made to simplify the standard practices.