Roman Rites

John Bidwell:

The musical notation in these two gradual leaves is based on a system traditionally ascribed to the eleventh-century Benedictine monk Guido of Arezzo. Changes in pitch and duration are indicated by the square-shaped notes, called neumes, placed on a four-line staff. The topmost line begins with an f-clef indicating the location of fa in the do-re-mi scale, also thought to have been devised by Guido of Arezzo. Here is the introit for Epiphany sung by the Edmundite Novices.