The Evolution of Notation

The Evolution of Notation

Plainsong was now grouped together, using several voices singing different parts. Neums became too unreadable. Gradually there grew up our staff notation. A 5-barred grate upon which are hung signs of different shapes according to the proportionate length of time the corresponding notes are to last. A part of the staff system is called the clef which appears at the beginning on each line of staff. The clef isolates one pitch on the staff as the root, around which all other notes are contrasted by some interval. Take a C scale for instance. The 8 notes making the scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Knowing the root to be C, the F note is 4 notes up the scale, making the interval a 4th. C to C is an octave. [AW] {NR}