GRECO-ROMAN NOTATION

This is a bar taken from Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto (piano part) no. 3 in D minor.





This is the above bar, fitted to Greco patterns.


dY
















G






B












G


















aB





dY












dY - DFGACE
aB - ABDEF
B - BDF



Then, Roman numerals indicate the notes' order within these scales.


dY
















G

II
I

III

II

III

VI
BI
Iv

II

VI

VI

I
IV
II




III

IV

V

IV

G
IIv

II

IV


V

V

III


III

II
IV

IV

I

II

VI
IV


III



aB





dY














Finally, accidentals and note durations are added.

=
dY
^



N





v

N






^



^


G

II
I

III

II

III

VI
BI
Iv

II

VI

VI

I
IV
II




III

IV

V

IV

G
IIv

II

IV


V

V

III


III

II
IV

IV

I

II

VI
IV


III



aB





dY









N




= - semiquavers
v - flat
^ - sharp
N - natural
G - treble clef



The Greco patterns are as follows and requires memory of progression as well as tonality. Perhaps there are choicer combinations of notes. Feel free to experiment.

a – ADE
aB – ABDEF
ad – ADEF
B – BDF
Bd – BDFA
BY – BCDEFG
d – DFA
dY – DFGACE

-
Y– GCE
Ya – GACDE

-

It is possible to write music more fluently with Greco-Roman notation, having memorized the patterns, and to perform more lucidly with independent hands as each hand is drawn towards a pattern rather than a position marked on a staff.