I am puzzled by Cecil’s column on this phenomena. when I was younger, I could read sheet music and thereafter play or sing the music by closing my eyes and “seeing” the sheet of music, complete with time signature, key changes, lyrics…my limitation was that I wasn’t a very good pianist, so I could see things that I knew how to play, but could not physically play it because I hadn’t the skill, but I could see those pages long after having read the music.
I no longer have that ability, though I remember sheets of music with great gaps, now, blank spots where once I would have “seen” what went in those spots. I remembered what I read in much the same way. I will not say I simply looked at a sheet of music or a page in a book and remembered it, more like, if I read it, played it, sang it…I remembered it thereafter without the need for the sheet in front of me.
I wish I had that ability now, whatever it is called, and however it works.