Before Turning the Page... A Brief History of Music Publishing Tools Before the Advent of the Computer
This article gives a brief overview of the main technical steps involved in printing throughout the long history of music publishing, from the earliest days of handwritten manuscripts until the information revolution. Each age is characterized by a particular tool that improved and expedited the task of mechanically reproducing musical scores, from the chisel to the typewriter by way of the steel punch. The article evokes memories of techniques and manufacturing processes that are often forgotten today.