Final answer:
W.C. Handy is often credited with creating blues music but he is more accurately described as the first to write it down, allowing for its wider dissemination. Music notation's history extends from ancient Mesopotamian writing to Medieval theoretical advances, which established the basis for Western music, a tradition further innovated by figures like Arnold Schoenberg and supported by recording technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual often credited with the music's creation but in reality was the first to catalogue it in written form is W.C. Handy. Handy is known as "the Father of the Blues" for his significant role in organizing and writing down the blues music he encountered in black communities across the United States. His contributions were pivotal in capturing the essence of the blues -- its unique chords and "blue" notes.
This process of music notation can be traced back to the Medieval period, where the development of a comprehensive notational system occurred alongside significant theoretical advances in rhythm and polyphony, ultimately defining the structure of western music.
Notation of music is deeply intertwined with its creation. The Mesopotamians, over 5,000 years ago, introduced the first systems of writing, known as cuneiform. Though initially used for record-keeping, it evolved into a method for creating literature. This demonstrates how the act of writing can transform and preserve art forms. In the case of music, figures like W.C. Handy turned oral traditions into written legacies, allowing the music to be shared and experienced more widely.
Throughout history, other notable individuals shaped music by making it more accessible through notation or revolutionizing the form, like Arnold Schoenberg with atonality and his twelve-tone scale. Moreover, the recording technology innovations such as microphones and recording devices led to a broader reach of music, influencing what we define as a professional in the field. Indeed, the evolution of music notation has been as dynamic as music itself, reflecting societal and technological changes over time.