A Melodic Discovery From the Dawn of Modern Music

Hidden in plain sight, a 9th-century discovery reveals earliest recorded example of music notation.
A Melodic Discovery From the Dawn of Modern Music
The privately owned 9th-century manuscript leaf was found by The Raab Collection president, Nathan Raab. The Raab Collection
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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 9th-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.
Rebecca Day
Rebecca Day
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Rebecca Day is a freelance writer and independent musician. For more information on her music and writing, visit her Substack, Classically Cultured, at classicallycultured.substack.com