solfeggio

American  

[sol-fej-oh, -fej-ee-oh] / sɒlˈfɛdʒ oʊ, -ˈfɛdʒ iˌoʊ /

noun

Music.

plural

solfeggi, solfeggios

1. a vocal exercise in which the sol-fa syllables are used.

2. the use of the sol-fa syllables to name or represent the tones of a melody or voice part, or the tones of the scale, or of a particular series, as the scale of C; solmization.

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solfeggio British  

/ sɒlˈfɛdʒɪəʊ, sɒlˈfɛʒ /

noun

1. a voice exercise in which runs, scales, etc, are sung to the same syllable or syllables

2. solmization, esp the French or Italian system, in which the names correspond to the notes of the scale of C major

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Etymology

Origin of solfeggio

1765–75; < Italian, derivative of solfeggiare, equivalent to solf ( a ) ( see sol-fa) + -eggiare v. suffix

Example Sentences

At 4, he knew his solfeggio; at 17, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatory of Music; at 21, he won the Conservatory's Prix de Rome, and went there at the French government's expense.

From Time Magazine Archive

Think of a voice-trainer singing each solfeggio and song with his pupil during the lesson.

From The Child-Voice in Singing treated from a physiological and a practical standpoint and especially adapted to schools and boy choirs by Howard, Francis E.

Unhappily in many districts the movement receives a lively opposition from music-teachers, who do not approve of this mnemotechnical way of learning poetry with music, without any instruction in solfeggio or musical science.

From Musicians of To-Day by Blaiklock, Mary

She took up her studies in solfeggio and harmony and settled down into the routine of hard, persistent study with renewed vigor.

From Camilla: A Tale of a Violin Being the Artist Life of Camilla Urso by Barnard, Charles

Cantilena, kan-ti-lē′na, n. a ballad or light song: a cantus firmus or melody for church use: a singing exercise or solfeggio.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various