A Melodic Discovery From the Dawn of Modern Music

Hidden in plain sight, a 9th-century discovery reveals earliest recorded example of music notation.

The privately owned 9th-century manuscript leaf was found by The Raab Collection president, Nathan Raab. The Raab Collection

A recently discovered manuscript has unveiled what experts believe to be one of the oldest known examples of written music notation in the history of civilization. The privately owned ninth-century manuscript was found by The Raab Collection president, Nathan Raab, when it was presented during a large auction in October 2025.

“An inquiring mind and a keen eye will spot things that other people have overlooked,” Raab shared with the Inspired by History podcast.