Do (to rhyme with go)

The first or tonic note of the solfeggio system of music.

Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, Italian; ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, French. The latter are borrowed from a hymn by Paulus Piaconus, addressed to St. John, which Guido, in the eleventh century, used in teaching singing:

“Ut queant laxis, Re-sonare fibris,

Mi-ra gestorum Fa-muli tuorum,

Sol-ve pollutis La-biis reatum.”

Sanctë Joannës.

Ut-tered be thy wondrous story,

Re-prehensive though I be,

Me make mindful of thy glory,

Fa-mous son of Zacharee;

Sol-ace to my spirit bring,

La-bouring thy praise to sing.

E. C. B.

(See Weizius in Heortologio, p. 263.) Le Maire added si (seventeenth century). (See Aretinian Syllables.)

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.