Visual Description: Benedictines . . . monk-eying a round.
TALOG = GLOAT, MEPLI = IMPEL, DUNEDS = SUDDEN, RUBSAD = ABSURD — Giving us: OTELNAB
Clue/Question: When they figured out how to write down music, it was – – –
Answer: NOTABLE
(A very literate stinky pun. I like it! There were no new clue words today. However three of the jumbles came up as new. We have definitely seen “talog” before. The answer letter layout probably would have been a little more challenging had “gloat” and “impel” been switched. As it was, the OTE made it just that much easier for me to see the answer. Another fun period cartoon. I thought the poplar trees in the background were a nice touch. Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
How could you tell those were poplar trees from that drawing ?
Okay . . . maybe they were cypress trees.
— YUR 🙂
For a moment, I couldn’t get the answer because I spelled Notable wrong…. :O