The first metre that was used was triple (three beats to the measure). It was called perfect and was indicated by a perfect circle, ○, the symbol of the Holy Trinity and of perfection. Duple metre (two beats to the measure) was imperfect and was indicated by an incomplete circle, Ϲ. Our sign for common time (four beats to the measure), Ϲ comes from this incomplete circle. ⁹⁄₈ was written ☉; ¾ was ○; ⁶⁄₈ was Ͼ; and ⁴⁄₄ was Ϲ. A monk named Franco, from Cologne, on the Rhine, early in the twelfth century, invented these time signatures, and notes which in themselves indicated different time values. Hucbald’s neumes were no longer suited to the new music, and besides time signatures it became necessary to have a music language showing very clearly and definitely the composer’s rhythm. FRANCO’S NOTATION OUR NOTATION ▬ (maxima) = ⬭ (whole note) ▜ (longa) = ᑯ (half note) ◼ (brevis) = ♩ (quarter note) ◆ (semi-brevis) = ♪ (eighth note) Franco used four kinds of notes. Here they are translated into the time values of today. ORGANS In the 10th century, organs came into use in the churches, but they were ungainly and crude, sounding only a few tones, and were probably only used to keep the singers on pitch. The organ had been invented long before this, and had been used in Greece and Egypt. It was built on the principle of Pan’s Pipes and was very simple. There were many portable organs, called portatives, small enough to be carried about. One organ (not a portative!) at Winchester, England, had four hundred pipes and twenty-six pairs of bellows. It took seventy men to pump air into it and two men to play it by pounding on a key with their fists or elbows. The tone was so loud that it could be heard all over the town. Fancy that! During these centuries, music was growing slowly but surely. Out of _organum_ and _discant_ and _faux bourdon_, arose a style called counterpoint, in which three, four or more melodies were sung at the same time. The writing of _counterpoint_, or line over line, is like a basket weave for the different melodies weave in and out like pieces of willow or raffia forming the basket. Later will come the _chorale_, written in chords or up and down music like a colonnade or series of columns. Keep this picture in mind. (St. Nicolas Tune, Chapter XI.) The word _point_ means _note_ so _counterpoint_ means _note against note_. The word was first applied in the 13th century to very crude and discordant part-writing. But, little by little the monks learned how to combine melodies beautifully and harmoniously and we still use many of their rules. Gradually great schools of church music flourished in France, Germany, Spain, England, Italy and the Netherlands in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.