NOTATION (Lat. Notatio; Fr. Sémiographie; Germ. Notirung, Notenschrift, Tonschrift). The Art of expressing musical ideas in writing.
Apart from its intrinsic value, the history of Notation derives much collateral importance from the light it throws upon that of Music, generally. From its earliest infancy, the Art has known no period of absolute stagnation. Incessant progress has long been recognised as a fundamental law of its existence; and a more or less extensive change in its written language...