The selection of places and accompanying narratives in this series are based on the two main biographies of Reinhardt published in English; Django Reinhardt by Charles Delaunay (Boston: Da Capo Press, 1982) and Django, The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend by Michael Dregni (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), Where references are given the authors names are abbreviated to ChD and MD respectively, followed by the page number.

The visual rendition of music, beyond the codes of traditional Western notation, which incidentally Django could not read, is notoriously problematic. The method used here is based on Music Animation Machine software, which assigns harmonic colouring to musical pitch. The software offers a graphic option in the style of a piano role. Pianolas were a popular means of generating music during Reinhardt’s youth.

The actual recordings come from the comprehensive JSP series of Django Reinhardt box sets, using the original cataloguing numbers. Additionally, the first track in the series, by Charles Péguri, is from Accordeon Musette 1913-1941, on Discotheque Des Halles DH002 CD.

With thanks to Dr. Paul Dibley for sharing his thoughts on graphic scores, and Windsor jazz guitarist Dave Edwards for attempting to teach me guitar in my early teens!

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