Some of the earliest written notes in western musical history discovered in Pennsylvania

<p>Ninth-century manuscript for Easter services remained ‘out of sight’ for years in hands of private collector</p><p>Researchers in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> have uncovered what they believe are some of the earliest written notes in western musical history – on a ninth-century manuscript they say remained “hidden in plain sight” for years in the hands of a private collector.</p><p>The notations – characters and dots similar to shorthand outlines – appear above the word “alleluia” on <a href="https://www.raabcollection.com/medieval-manuscripts/earliest-musical-notations">the document</a>, a vellum manuscript leaf from a Latin sacramentary, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/catholicism">Catholic</a> liturgical book used in western <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news">Europe</a> during mass from the mid- to late 800s.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/28/pennsylvania-historic-latin-music">Continue reading...</a>