Interface, Vol. 14, Nos. 3-4, January 1985, pp. 165-183 Taylor and Francis Online
Abstract
ASHTON is a utility for transcribing conventionally notated musical scores into the numeric format required by digital sound-synthesis packages. The coding format is based on the linear music code developed by Alan Ashton (1970): single-character primitives for durations, letter names, accidentals, etc., are organized into a syntax of measures, parts, chords, and rests analogous to conventional notation. Ames's implementation offers many powerful enhancements including facilities for microtonal intonation, generalized rhythmic proportions, nested choiring of timbral attributes, user-defined abbreviations for often-used strings of text, and shorthand for repetitions.