Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

neume

noun

/njuːm/

Definition

A neume is a notation used in medieval music to indicate pitch direction and melodic contour. It is a system that predates modern musical notation and typically appears as a series of marks above the text of Gregorian chant.

Examples

The monks used neumes to notate the chants sung during Mass.
Studying neumes provides insight into the evolution of Western music notation.
Each neume represents a specific melodic gesture, helping singers understand how to perform the music.

Meaning

The term ‘neume’ comes from the Greek word ‘pneuma,’ meaning breath or spirit, and it refers to the way music was originally indicated visually before the development of more precise notation systems.