A little history of written music

[BassChuck]

This is how it all started, kind of.

How Was Musical Notation Invented? A Brief History

 

[MonetBass]

Ah, good ol' first semester Music History class. Good times.

 

[mambo4]

Fascinating, but what I want to know is the name of the person who invented notating rests.

 

[MonetBass]

Fascinating, but what I want to know is the name of the person who invented notating rests.

Catholic monks in Europe developed the modern music notation we know today, which included notating rests. Gregorian chant, which preceded this, did not have a notation for a rest.

 

[BassChuck]

Rests are only necessary when you have more than one part. Waiting your turn is an essential part of polyphony.

 

[mambo4]

I find myself using rests quite a bit playing solo

My point was that the critical role of rhythmic figures , for example beams, flags, ties, dots, rests
Is of great value to us bassists. The article linked does not address their development explicitly.
If that development can be traced to single person (which is unlikely,) They deserve a shout -out!