Abstract

This paper examines the traditional musical notation from the viewpoint of the general problem concerning the types of visual representations. More specifically, we analyze this system in relation to the distinction between graphical and linguistic representations. We start by comparing this notation with the representational systems which are most commonly associated with such categories: on the one hand, pictorial representations as an example of a graphical representation; on the other hand, verbal writing usually associated with a linguistic representation. Then, we examine the traditional musical notation in relation to different ways of drawing the distinction graphic–linguistic, and we evaluate the applicability of such criteria to the former system. Finally, we present some general remarks about the legitimacy of this distinction both with respect to representational systems in general and to the specific case of the traditional musical notation.