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 ) ( 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

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

When the elder boys had done, the younger came forward and sang some solfeggio exercises.

From The Boy's Voice A Book of Practical Information on The Training of Boys' Voices For Church Choirs, &c. by Curwen, John Spencer

Having finished her morning tea she went to the ballroom, which she particularly liked for its loud resonance, and began singing her solfeggio.

From War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo, graf

I taught solfeggio as well as French horn in the Lyons Conservatory.

From Great Singers on the Art of Singing Educational Conferences with Foremost Artists by Cooke, James Francis