Monday Music Book Review - Solfege & the history of written music

Ever wonder how written music ever got started? Did you realize that the way we read and write music has not always been in existence. When people used to want to learn a new song, they would have to hear it from a teacher and then memorize it. If they forgot the song, the song could be lost forever. Well, along came Guido d-Arezzo, the “Father of Music”. Check out my review of the book Do-Re-Mi If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido d’Arezzo by Susan L. Roth.

Here is the forward of the book, written by Angelo Mafucci (born and raised in Arezzo with degrees in musicology).

This book stands proud and tall to honor that great man, that deserving, justly named “Father of Music,” Guido d’Arezzo. With Guido d’Arezzo’s short but deliberate pen strokes, music was transformed for the ages. From the moment of his epiphany, to present times and forever after, we who hear music (and we who can read music) must thank Guido d’Arezzo.

For all of time, there was music. Music has shared its origins with the oldest of civilizations. Without a valid writing system, music coudl exist only in the present tense. Unlike other arts, music left us no legacy before it was written. And so it languished in history, waiting for its “savior.” Ten centuries ago, Guido d’Arezzo gave all of us one of the most important, enduring links to the history of humanity. Guido d’Arezzo and his method of musical notation, a method as simple as it is still effective, changed the role of music everywhere and forever. By enabling music to live beyond the moment, Guido d’Arezzo immortalized it

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Why do I like this book? I love biographies, especially when they make me feel like I am right there, in the person’s life. This book doesn’t just tell me the important facts but paints a picture of the setting including the prevailing ideas of the time. Often in this day and age, people tend to play by ear. Those with a good ear are elevated as more “natural” or “authentic” musicians. TV vocal competitions and talent shows only highlight people learning their music by ear. I found this book very helpful in highlighting the benefits of being able to read music. Having a strong ear to learn music is definitely a gift, but so is having written music that allows songs to be transmitted from generation to generation, from community to community without necessarily relying on recordings (which break down or erode over time) or technology (which isn’t always accessible). Written music allows anyone willing to learn the code of reading music to have access to recreate songs rather than relegating music to only those with a strong ear and a good memory. And ultimately, every musician should strive for both - a good ear and the ability to read music.

After reading the story (or while waiting for your copy of the story), check out the quintessential Solfege song, Do-Re-Mi, from The Sound of Music.