Phrased Notation System
From an early age Kevin O’Carroll has had an interest in singing and performing Renaissance polyphony. The music of Viadana, Lassus, Tallis, Byrd, Palestrina, and more, hold a special fascination for him. However, the manner in which this music is performed by community choirs is often less than it might be, with appropriate support from the sheet music. Stemming from a performance of Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus with which he was not happy, Kevin’s PhD research involved examining the extent to which Renaissance polyphony presented in modern music notation format has led to inappropriate performance practice. This in turn led to the development of the Phrased Notation System (PNS) – a system which seeks to promote appropriate performance practice while at the same time minimising the impact of modern notation convention.
About the Phrased Notation System (PNS)
The Phrased Notation System (PNS) is an editorial style designed to support choristers in a more appropriate performance practice. It does so by addressing the elements of modern notation which are known to be contra-indicated in best practice. These elements continue to be used by major publishing houses notwithstanding academic research which indicates that their use should be discontinued.
Below are a collection of compositions listed by composer. The inclusion of a Short Score in the edition is not an indication that a keyboard should be used. It is included to assist choristers with orientation until such time as they become familiar with reading scores without some of the standard notational elements that do not exist in PNS.
Click on the title of the piece to bring up the sheet music.
Check back often as new pieces are added on a regular basis.
Composers
Anerio, Giovanni Francesco (1567 – 1630)
Anerio – Requiem Aeternam SATB
Bennet, John (c.1575 – after 1614)
Bennet – All Creatures Now SSATB
Byrd, William (1540 – 1623)
Clemens (non papa), Jacob (1510 – 1555)
Clemens non Papa – Adoramus Te SATB
Gallus, Jacobus (Handl) (1510 – 1591)
Jacobus Gallus (Handl) Ascendit Deus TTBarBB
Guerrero, Francisco (1527 – 1599)
Guerrero – Ave, Virgo Sanctissima SSATB
Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da (1525 – 1594)
Palestrina – Exultate Deo SAATB
Palestrina – Sicut Cervus SATB
Viadana, Ludovico Grossi da (1560 – 1627)
Victoria, Tomás Luis de (1548 – 1611)
Victoria – O Magnum Mysterium SATB