The 19th century has left us with numerous handwritten sources in the form of notations, particularly from Istanbul. These sources feature various notation systems, reflecting individual scribal conventions, and dynamic historical developments. How can these manuscripts be transcribed into modern notation formats that are accessible to the global musicological community and performers, while faithfully conveying the characteristics of the original sources? How is the technical aspect of this critical editing process implemented?
Researchers from the Corpus Musicae Ottomanicae (CMO) project will address these and related questions during this workshop by presenting the project’s methodological approaches. Using selected examples written in 19th-century Hampartsum and Western staff notation, transcriptions of Ottoman art music will be created interactively with the participants, following the CMO’s editorial guidelines.
Specifically, the workshop will cover the following topics:
- Musicological source study
- Introduction to Hampartsum notation
- Western staff notation in the Ottoman context
- Fundamentals of critical music editing
- Use of notation software (Sibelius) in critical editions
Who Should Apply
We welcome applications from:
- Graduate students and advanced undergraduates in musicology, ethnomusicology, music education, traditional music, Ottoman studies, or related fields
- Scholars with an interest in historical musical sources, including those from neighboring musical cultures
- Musicians and practitioners interested in editorial work in the context of traditional music
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Knowledge of Western music and modern staff notation
- Familiarity with makam-based music
- A personal laptop (participants are expected to have the required notation software installed prior to the workshop)
- Ability to converse in English
- Experience with notation software (specifically Sibelius) and basic familiarity with Ottoman Turkish and/or Hampartsum notation will be considered helpful
What Participants Will Gain
- Practical experience in transcribing nineteenth-century Ottoman music manuscripts into modern notation formats using established editorial methods
- Foundational knowledge of Hampartsum notation and Western staff notation in the Ottoman musical context
- Insight into the principles and challenges of critical music editing, including source comparison and editorial decision-making
- Hands-on familiarity with the use of Sibelius for preparing scholarly music editions