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The Mystery of Do-Re-Mi

Christopher Gabbitas - baritone
David Miller - lute

 


"A fascinating and highly recommended CD of the Ode’s first performance in modern times, performed by King’s Singer Christopher Gabbitas and lutenist David Miller."

Musical Opinion
  "the purely auditory pleasures to be derived from it are less than wholly exceptional... Pleasantly performed by Christopher Gabbitas- of the King's Singers - and the excellent lutenist David Miller, the results are pleasant and intriguing listening"

MusicWeb
 
       
Ode to Phyllis
(Est mihi nonum)
In both Latin and English
Q. Horatius Flaccus (Horace)
&
Verses in Praise of St John the Baptist
(Ut queant laxis)
Paul the Deacon & Guido d'Arezzo

As seen/ heard on BBC TV, World Service, Radio 3, Radio Scotland and Radio Dublin.

From The Sunday Times, February 2007

Julie Andrews frolicked across the Alps singing it in The Sound of Music and generations of children have learnt their musical scales by remembering it. Now Do-Re-Mi has been traced back more than 2000 years to one of the greatest poets of ancient Rome.

According to a book to be published next month, the origins of the song lie far from the female deer and ray of golden sun in the Rodgers and Hammerstein version sung by Andrews to the von Trapp children. Instead it was penned as a mnemonic by a medieval Italian monk who drew on a melody which accompanied Horace's Ode to Phyllis, written in the 1st century BC.

The research has been carried out by Stuart Lyons, who won a classics scholarship to King's College, Cambridge. "The monk who invented Do-Re-Mi told a lie about it because he didn't want to go to the stake (for heresy)," Lyons said.

"The melody truly belonged to the Ode," said Lyons. "It is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in academic discovery. It is incredible to solve a mystery that is 1,000 years old. "

From Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill Director, British School at Rome

"With brilliant detective work, Stuart Lyons unravels the musical character of Horace's odes and traces a remarkable link between Horatian music, Guido d'Arezzo and the discovery of do-re-mi."

Recorded to illustrate the widely pulicised new book by Stuart Lyons:  'HORACE'S ODES AND THE MYSTERY OF DO-RE-MI' Aris & Phillips ISBN 9780856687907
The book can be purchased from:
http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/46784

BBC: ** Do-Re-Mi has Roman roots, says historian** Musicologist Stuart Lyons says he has traced the roots of Do-Re-Mi back to Roman times. 

Click here to see the reference on the BBC website:

For information on Horace's Odes and the Mystery of Do-Re-Mi, visit Stuart Lyons' website at www.horace-odes.com

Title Page
Reviews
CD Booklet pdf
Christopher Gabbitas
David Miller

Release date: February 2007
Order code: SIGCD098
Barcode: 635212009826

 

The Mystery of Do-Re-Mi
1. HORACE
 Ode to Phyllis (Latin) Est mihi nonum
2. HORACE Ode to Phyllis (English) I've a full flask
3. PAUL the DEACON
& GUIDO d'AREZZO
 Hymn to St. John Ut queant laxis
The CD includes a libretto in Latin and English,
together with an explanatory essay by Stuart Lyons.
Note for academics: when researching the M425 musical notation, please be advised not to follow other currently available interpretations which fail to adopt a starting pitch of middle C.

 

 

 

 

 [images/index.htm] 13 April 2008