The History of European Musical Notation
Music notation is a system of symbols used to visually represent music. It includes notes and rests that indicate the duration and pitch of
sounds. Music notation has evolved over time and has been used in different cultures and time periods. The earliest known form of musical
notation dates back to about 1400 BCE in Babylonia and was inscribed on a cuneiform tablet. Ancient Greek notation used letter symbols above text syllables to represent pitches and rhythm. Byzantine music notation, used in the Byzantine Empire and still used in some Orthodox Churches today, is distinct from Western music notation. Byzantine music uses a system of seven standard note names for solfège (parallagē), which are pá, vú, ghá, dhi, ké, zō, nē. These note names roughly correspond to Western solmization syllables of re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do, with the exception of vú and zō.
The earliest form of musical notation can be found in Babylonia, where cuneiform tablets were used to write down texts,
numbers and instructions on how to perform music.
The development of musical notation in the 13th century in the Near East and early Europe was a significant milestone. Safi al-Din al-Urmawi in the Near East developed a form of musical notation that represented rhythms using geometric shapes. In early Europe, music notation began to develop in monasteries as a mnemonic device for Gregorian chant around the 9th century. This early form of notation, known as neumes, used symbols to represent melodic contours. However, these early forms of notation were limited and could only be understood by those who already knew the music.
Advancements in music notation continued over the centuries, with scholars and musicians refining and expanding upon early notational systems. During the early development of music notation, melody could be notated, but rhythm remained a challenge. In the 13th century, Franco of Cologne proposed a solution by suggesting that individual notes could have their own rhythms represented by the shape of the note. However, it wasn't until the 14th century that a system of fixed note lengths, resembling the modern system, began to emerge. Regular measures (bars) became commonplace by the end of the 17th century, further refining the system of rhythmic notation.
The development of the standard music staff is credited to Guido d'Arezzo, an Italian Benedictine monk who lived in the 11th century. He used a system of lines and spaces to represent pitches and created a system of musical notation that allowed for more precise representation of melodies. This system of music notation, with staff lines and noteheads, became the foundation for Western music notation and is still in use today.
In addition to the standard music staff, other notational systems have been developed over time for different genres of music and different purposes. For example, the Nashville Number System, used in country music, relies on numbers and chord symbols to represent the chords and structure of a song. Graphic notation, used in contemporary classical music, uses visual symbols and diagrams to represent musical ideas and concepts that may not be easily notated using traditional staff notation.
The history of European musical notation is a fascinating journey that has evolved over time to become the sophisticated and standardized systems of notation used today. From the earliest forms of notation on cuneiform tablets to the development of the music staff and the refinement of rhythmic and pitch notation, music notation has played a crucial role in preserving and spreading musical knowledge and repertoire across different cultures and time periods. Whether it's classical, popular, or traditional music, music notation continues to be an essential tool for musicians and composers to communicate their musical ideas and create meaningful and lasting works of art.
Our book is made for kids or adults who are absolute beginners in music. We tried to write it as simply as possible. We use an “easy-to-play” visual aid so any beginner can play music quickly. Neither kids nor their parents have to read sheet music or have a musical background. No previous knowledge is necessary.
Every song has a large and simple, letter-coded visual, along with traditional sheet music. The instruction is designed so that children begin with simple circles and gradually advance to reading notes using sheet music. We try to make this transition as easy as a game, where children advance to higher levels themselves.
