noun
- A sign or symbol used in medieval musical notation to indicate pitch and duration of notes in liturgical chant.
Usage: Also spelled 'neume'; Music history; liturgical context; Primarily used in academic and historical discussions of Gregorian chant
Examples
- The manuscript displayed neums written above the Latin text of the hymn.
- Medieval monks used neums to notate Gregorian chant before modern musical notation was developed.
- Each neum represented a specific melodic gesture or interval.
- Scholars study neums to understand how early church music was performed.