Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for automatically turning pages of a music manuscript or the like. The manuscript is supported on a music stand or the like, with the upper edges of its pages at or near the top of the support. Behind the support is a shaft mounting a plurality of pivotally movable, spring actuated control plates, each mounting a wire-like page turner element having an elongated laterally extending portion engagable with an outer upper corner area of a manuscript page. A sequential release mechanism, including a release pawl, operates in sequence to release the control plate for allowing the top most page of the manuscript to be turned, after first blocking the control plate for the next subsequent page to be turned. The release pawl mechanism permits any number of pages to be quickly back turned and brought into position for subsequent one-at-a-time release by the mechanism.