The Evolution of Musical Notes and the Guidonian Hand

Introduction

The modern Western music scale, with its familiar Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, has a rich history that dates back to the 11th century. This article delves into the origins of these musical notes and the ingenious methods used by medieval musicians to teach and remember the scale.

The Birth of Musical Notes

Before the widespread use of the Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti syllables, the notes were named Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti. These syllables were derived from the first syllables of the lines of a Latin hymn dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The original hymn, as recorded in 'Music in the Medieval World,' begins with the lines:

Ut queant laxis
Resonare fibris
Mire gestorum

From these lines, we can see that 'Ut' corresponds to the modern 'Do', 'Re' to 'Re', 'Mi' to 'Mi', and so forth. The seventh and last line, 'Sancte Joannes,' is an exclamation rather than part of the scale.

Guido d'Arezzo: A Pioneer in Music Education

It was Guido d'Arezzo, an Italian priest and music theorist from the 11th century, who formalized this system. Guido d'Arezzo came up with the idea of assigning these syllables to the notes of the diatonic scale. His innovations in music theory and education were revolutionary for the time.

The Origin of Guido d'Arezzo

Guido, born in Italy, is credited with the development and popularization of the Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti system. His methods were detailed in 'Music in the Medieval World,' which provides insight into the context of his time and the challenges faced in teaching music.

The Guidonian Hand

One of Guido's most significant contributions was the creation of the Guidonian hand. This was a mnemonic device used to teach the scale. Instead of using abstract symbols, Guido used his fingers to represent the notes. Each note was assigned a finger, allowing musicians to quickly memorize the scale.

An illustration of the Guidonian Hand.

The system worked as follows:

Ut - thumb Re - index finger Mi - middle finger Fa - ring finger Sol - little finger La - first knuckle of index finger (for the fifth note) Ti - second knuckle of index finger (for the sixth note)

This method revolutionized music education, making it accessible and memorable. It is a testament to Guido's ingenuity and his commitment to advancing the field of music.

The Impact on Music

The adoption of the Do, Re, Mi system led to significant changes in the way music was taught and learned. It made scales more accessible to a wider audience and standardized the way musicians could communicate about pitches. The sybillable system, combined with the Guidonian hand, created a powerful mnemonic tool that still influences modern music education today.

Conclusion

The origins of our familiar musical notes can be traced back to the 11th century, thanks to the genius of Guido d'Arezzo. His work, particularly the Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti system and the Guidonian hand, has endured for centuries. Understanding the history and development of these musical notes provides a deeper appreciation of the rich legacy of medieval music theory.

Further Reading

For those interested in learning more about the history of music, 'Music in the Medieval World' is an excellent resource. Additionally, exploring the works of Guido d'Arezzo and other medieval composers can offer valuable insights into the evolution of Western music.