13 horrifying music notations that will make you want to tear up your sheet music

26 January 2022, 13:52 | Updated: 4 February 2022, 11:24

Evan Chow performs version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

We thought we’d seen it all, but these are some truly harrowing examples of classical sheet music. Paganini has nothing on these.

We’ve all experienced the unpleasant feeling of intimidation that a complicated piece of sheet music can cause.

Thankfully, a new Twitter account called Threatening Music Notation is now documenting the most horrifying scores all in one convenient place. Thanks, we hate it.

1. “Conductors actually have a really important role in the orchestra, they bring the score to life”

   The score:

   pic.twitter.com/OiihhVJJdf

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 21, 2022

2. When gymnasts retrain as musicians

   Triple stopping? Demi semi quavers? Trills?! This seems like a sure way to strain something.

   pic.twitter.com/He7SGnqSwE

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 25, 2022

3. Now this is just downright terrifying.

   pic.twitter.com/v57SxD7JdA

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 25, 2022

4. Um, sure...

   Some of the best musical creativity happens when composers leave room for a performer’s interpretation. This seems a bit on the nose, though.

   pic.twitter.com/BtwyLja5h4

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 25, 2022

5. White Noise, colourised (2022)

   pic.twitter.com/lt9OoAMKdN

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 25, 2022

6. Less of the passive aggression, please and thank you.

   pic.twitter.com/xBYwvnY4Ir

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 24, 2022

7. *cries in piano*

   pic.twitter.com/U8zs7aVN9b

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 23, 2022

8. I will never, ever, complain about E flat minor, ever again.

   pic.twitter.com/hiSkTV9SOd

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 23, 2022

9. Ah, finally. A piece at my ability level.

   pic.twitter.com/p5mZOEJ367

   — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 21, 2022

10. Um, what else are you supposed to do?

    pic.twitter.com/OJRpOSPWvx

    — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 18, 2022

11. There’s a lot to unpack here.

    Let’s start with the instrument choice: why?

    pic.twitter.com/RbEuWzvacI

    — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 11, 2022

12. So deafening silence isn’t just a figure of speech?

    Demonstration definitely needed for this one...

    pic.twitter.com/GZDbzFv3TX

    — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) January 10, 2022

13. In conclusion, consider us well and truly threatened.

    Via DM submission pic.twitter.com/27LmoA5BlB

    — Threatening Music Notation (@ThreatNotation) December 28, 2021

For even more horrifying music scores, head over to @ThreatNotation on Twitter. Alternatively, please consider therapy.