The problems of transcription and transnotation in ethnomusicology are especially important in Israel today because the concentration of so many different ethnic groups has led to increased research in their various folk musics. Within the traditional system of musical notation only pitch and duration of a sound can be reflected, while colour and dynamic level must be conveyed by other means. Obviously, such notation is insufficient for the ethnomusicologist who needs an objective, impersonal account of all the musical qualities of that which is actually performed.

Various solutions to this problem have been proposed. Analytical transcription incorporates all elements of the music and its performance—i.e., not only the pitches sung, but the artistic nuances of the performer as well. The problems which arise here are mainly those of accuracy within the framework of our standard notation. Even with the addition of special symbols, truly accurate results remain impossible to attain.