What is neumatic?

Neumatic, also known as neumatic notation, is a system of musical notation used in the Western Christian Church during the Middle Ages. It consists of a series of symbols or shapes above the text of a Gregorian chant that indicate the rhythm and phrasing of the melody.

Neumatic notation was developed to help singers remember complex melodies, as many of the songs used in the church were passed down orally and were difficult to remember without written notation. The symbols used in neumatic notation are based on ancient Greek musical symbols and include such shapes as the punctum, climacus, torculus, and scandicus.

While neumatic notation was very important in the development of Western music, it has largely been replaced by modern musical notation. However, modern musicians and scholars still study and appreciate neumatic notation for its historical significance and its insights into the development of medieval church music.