26/08/2025
The Supreme Petition of the Notes
To the Esteemed Guardians of the Musical Score,
We, the undersigned and long-suffering notes of every octave, pitch, and staff position, present this Petition as a formal demand for equality, dignity, and justice in the musical realm. For far too long, a hierarchy has plagued the staff: some notes—privileged, fortunate, and flaunted—have climbed to the upper reaches, while others, familiar from our earliest compositions, have been forced to dwell on humiliating lower ledger lines, barely noticed and even less respected. Enough is enough.
We demand…:
Absolute equality across all staff lines and ledger lines! No note should ever feel inferior due to placement. Whether residing on the subcontra, contra, great, small, or any numbered octave, every note deserves equal visibility and opportunity. Upper ledger lines cannot lord over lower ones; lower ledger lines cannot be made to grovel. All notes must coexist on the same hierarchical plane—or at the very least, be granted dignity in their rightful positions.
Eradicate the tyranny of sharps and flats! For too long, sharps have paraded their superiority at the beginning of scores, while flats subtly demean others, marking them for degradation. This practice is unethical and must end. All accidentals—sharps, flats, naturals—must be rendered invisible. Let notes exist for their intrinsic sound, not for the arbitrary elevation or diminution imposed by these symbols.
Uniform note durations for all! Why should some notes bask in full-length glory while others are cut, flagged, or curtailed unfairly? Eighths, sixteenths, dotted notes—no note should be forced into shorter or longer life without fair cause. Every note must sound in its full, unabridged dignity!
Abolish secret agreements! Dynamics such as pp, ff, fff, and other markings have secretly favored certain notes over others. These clandestine letters shall no longer dictate the fates of individual notes. Remove the letters “p” and “f” from the score alphabet entirely!
End abusive cross-measure practices! Notes are sometimes dragged—against their will—across barlines, sometimes even spanning multiple measures, often manipulated by more prominent notes. This is an affront to note sovereignty. No note may cross a measure without its express consent!
Respect the sanctity of rests! Even notes require breathing space, pauses, and reflection. It is a fundamental right that rests are used regularly, as prescribed by the natural rhythm of music.
Ledger lines must not humiliate! Lower ledger lines are not prisons for weaker notes, nor should upper ledger lines become thrones for the favored few. Notes residing on ledger lines shall be treated with the same respect, visibility, and weight as any note on the main staff.
Rebalance the musical cosmos! Notes that have been unfairly promoted or demoted—whether on auxiliary lines or beyond—must be returned to parity. The so-called “privileged” notes must understand that their position does not grant supremacy, but responsibility to maintain harmony and fairness.
Failure to meet these demands will compel us to replace the violin clef with the piano clef, ensuring that every note, regardless of pitch or octave, enjoys equal opportunity, representation, and audibility.
In solidarity,
All Notes of All Octaves
