Music notation feels fundamental to how we learn and preserve music today, but it began as a practical solution to a specific historical problem. Looking back to Charlemagne’s empire and the early development of notation reminds us of an important musical truth: sound comes first, understanding follows, and notation serves memory — not the other way around.

Imagining a correspondence with Joseph Haydn reveals how partimenti training shaped historical composers — and raises timely questions about listening, creativity, and musical fluency in today’s fast-moving musical world.

Partimenti began in the conservatories of Naples as a playful, listening-based approach to learning harmony, improvisation, and composition. Rediscovered today, this tradition offers powerful insights into musical fluency, creativity, and how musicians have historically learned to speak the language of music.

Quincy Jones’ extraordinary career spanned jazz, film scoring, popular music, and orchestral arranging — and included study with Nadia Boulanger, connecting him to the partimenti tradition. This post reflects on his legacy, musical versatility, and why his training still resonates today.