solmization

American  

[sol-muh-zey-shuhn, sohl-] / ˌsɒl məˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsoʊl- /

noun

Music.

1. the act, process, or system of using certain syllables, especially the sol-fa syllables, to represent the tones of the scale.

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solmization British  

/ ˌsɒlmɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. music a system of naming the notes of a scale by syllables instead of letters derived from the 11th-century hexachord system of Guido d'Arezzo, which assigns the names ut (or do ), re, mi, fa, sol, la, si (or ti ) to the degrees of the major scale of C ( fixed system ) or (excluding the syllables ut and si ) to the major scale in any key ( movable system ) See also tonic sol-fa

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Etymology

Origin of solmization

First recorded in 1720–30; from French solmisation, equivalent to solmis(er) ( sol + mi + -is(er) ) + -ation; see origin at sol ¹, mi, -ize, -ation

Example Sentences

He is generally credited with having invented the art of solmization, the introduction of the staff, the use of the hand for teaching intervals, and the introduction of notes.

From A Popular History of the Art of Music From the Earliest Times Until the Present by Mathews, W. S. B. (William Smythe Babcock)