Musical notation from past times often appears decorative like an exotic plant, yet it is also very enigmatic. However, those who learn to understand it can not only create their own transcriptions and make music from them but also gain insight into the entire musical thinking of an era. In the new practical guide to notation by Manfred Hermann Schmid, both aspects go hand in hand: the explanation of the script and its relationship to the compositions of the respective time. The author presents the classical field of notation, the theory of rhythm from 1200 to 1600 (Notre Dame, Ars nova, white mensural notation), in a compact manner focused on the essential lines. Furthermore, he provides a step-by-step fundamental introduction to the theory of ancient music and medieval writings, leading up to the neumatic notation of Gregorian chant.