Braille music
Braille music is a braille code that allows music to be notated using braille cells so music can be read by visually impaired musicians. The system was incepted by Louis Braille.[1]
Braille music uses the same six-position braille cell as literary braille. However braille music assigns its own meanings and has its own syntax and abbreviations.[1] Almost anything that can be written in print music notation can be written in braille music notation. However, the notation is an independent and well-developed system with its own conventions.[1]
The world's largest collection of the notation is at the Library of Congress in the United States.[2]
Variations in Braille music[edit]
Over the years and in the many different countries, a variety of minor differences in braille music practice have arisen. Some have preferred a different standard for interval or staff notation or used different codes for various less common musical notations. An international effort to standardize the braille music code culminated in updates summarized in the Music Braille Code 1997[18] and detailed in New International Manual of Braille Music Notation (1997)[19] However, users should be aware that they will encounter divergences when ordering scores from printing houses and libraries because these are often older and from various countries.