Hexachordal Solmization
Course
Learn to Read Music with Hexachords in the Renaissance and Baroque Style!
Guidonian Hand
There is no B (Si); there are only 6 notes: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La.
From the beginning of the 11th century until at least the 19th century, the musical education of children and beginners had one thing in common: it started with Solmization.
Musicians were educated in Ecclesiastical Schools and learned Solmization with the Cantus Firmus.
Solmization is a method of reading music that uses a dual nomenclature: letters and scales of 6 sounds called hexachords.
The hexachord is always Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La, and it always consists of a sequence of Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone.
In Solmization, therefore, notes have a dual name, such as Csolfaut and Gsolreut.
On each note, more properly called Chorda, Clavis, or Letter, all 6 syllables Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La can be present.
Discover all the course content and what you can learn below.
By the end of the Cantus Firmus Course you will be able to:
🎵 Reading Music with Hexachords
🎵 Correctly Interpreting Renaissance Music
🎵 Understanding How Renaissance or Baroque Musicians Read and Perceived Music
🎵 Accurately Reading Melodies Written in the Nature of B-Durum Chant with the DEA Rule
🎵 Accurately Reading Melodies Written in the Nature of B-Durum Chant with the GAD Rule
🎵 Knowing and Correctly Applying Musica Ficta
🎵 Reading with Hexachords in All Major and Minor Keys
Course Contents
Chapter 1: Letters, Syllables, and Staff
Learn the Musical Proportions of the Renaissance, how they work, and how to sing using hexachords.
Learn to navigate the Great Scale with hexachords in the 3 orders and 3 natures: Natural, Hard, and Soft.
Learn to use the Guidonian Hand and how musical clefs are set within this system.
Stages
🎼 1.1 – The Great Scale
🎼 1.2 – The 3 Orders
🎼 1.3 – The Hexachord
🎼 1.4 – The Union of the Great Scale and the Hexachord
🎼 1.5 – Deduzzione and Proprietà
🎼 1.6 – The Guidonian Hand
🎼 1.7 – Clefs of Bdurum and Bmollis
Chapter 2: Mutations and Practice in B durus (B hard)
Learn how to apply the DEA Mutation Rule in all melodies written in B hard.
Learn to use Fa super La, Chromaticism, and the Custos.
Practice extensively with numerous exercises from original sources.
Stages
🎼 2.1 – Mutation Rules in B Hard
🎼 2.2 – Double Possibility in Mutation
🎼 2.3 – Ordo Bquadro Naturale
🎼 2.4 – Practice with Lorenzo Penna’s Scales B hard
🎼 2.5 – Mutations with Leaps in B hard
🎼 2.6 – Practice with L. Penna’s Leaps in B soft
🎼 2.7 – Practice with big Leaps part 1
🎼 2.8 – Practice with big Leaps part 2
🎼 2.9 – Fa super La
🎼 2.10 – Chromaticism
🎼 2.11 – Custos or Mostra
🎼 2.12 – Practice with Fa super La and Chromaticism
🎼 2.13 – Repertoire in B hard, Baccusi and Palestrina
🎼 2.14 – Practice with Bicinium 1, Voice 1
🎼 2.15 – Practice with Bicinium 1, Voice 2
🎼 2.16 – Practice with Bicinium 2, Voice 1
🎼 2.17 – Practice with Bicinium 2, Voice 2
🎼 2.18 – Practice with Bicinium 3, Voice 1
🎼 2.19 – Practice with Bicinium 3, Voice 2
Chapter 3: Mutations and Practice in B mollis (B flat)
Learn how to apply the GAD Mutation Rule in all melodies written in B hard.
Learn how to use the seventh syllable Ba/Bi by Adriano Banchieri.
Practice extensively with numerous exercises from original sources.
Stages
🎼 3.1 – Mutation Rules in B Soft
🎼 3.2 – Practice with L. Penna’s Scales B soft
🎼 3.3 – Mutations with Leaps in B soft part 1
🎼 3.4 – Mutations with Leaps in B soft part 2
🎼 3.5 – Ordo Bmolle Accidentale, Marinelli’s Mutation exercise
🎼 3.6 – Banchieri’s Hand and Repertoire in B molle, Baccusi and Palestrina
🎼 3.7 – Practice with Bicinium 1, Voice 1
🎼 3.8 – Practice with Bicinium 1, Voice 2
🎼 3.9 – Practice with Bicinium 2, Voice 1
🎼 3.10 – Practice with Bicinium 2, Voice 2
🎼 3.11 – Practice with Bicinium 3, Voice 1
🎼 3.12 – Practice with Bicinium 3, Voice 2
🎼 3.13 – Banchieri’s Cheat
Chapter 4: Advanced Practice
Become even more skilled with advanced exercises in B hard and B soft.
Strengthen your solmization with Disceopolo’s part by Banchieri.
And refine your skills with Maestro’s Part.
Stages
🎼 4.1 – Banchieri Cartella 1 B soft
🎼 4.2 – Banchieri Cartella 2 B hard
🎼 4.3 – Banchieri Cartella 3 B soft
🎼 4.4 – Banchieri Cartella 4 B hard
🎼 4.5 – Banchieri’s Duo N.1 – Discepolo
🎼 4.6 – Banchieri’s Duo N.1 – Maestro
🎼 4.7 – Banchieri’s Duo N.2 – Discepolo
🎼 4.8 – Banchieri’s Duo N.2 – Maestro
🎼 4.9 – Banchieri’s Duo N.3 – Discepolo
🎼 4.10 – Banchieri’s Duo N.3 – Maestro
🎼 4.11 – Banchieri’s Duo N.4 – Discepolo
🎼 4.12 – Banchieri’s Duo N.4 – Maestro
Chapter 5: Complementary Clefs and Musica Ficta
Learn how to switch from the soft B nature to the hard B nature and vice versa using Complementary Clefs, for writing in high clefs.
Learn how Musica Ficta works and how to use notes and Chorde outside the Ordinary Hand.
Discover two new hidden hexachords: the Ordo B quadro Giacente in Dut, and the ordo B molle nascosto in But.
Stages
🎼 5.1 – Complementary Clefs
🎼 5.2 – Clefs and Chiavette
🎼 5.3 – Complementary Clefs Exercises
🎼 5.4 – Musica Ficta and Mutations
🎼 5.5 – Practice with Musica Ficta
🎼 5.6 – Ordo Bquadro Giacente and Bmolle Nascosto
Chapter 6: Hexachordal Solfeggio
Learn how to use hexachords in the tonal system, in all major and minor keys.
Learn to recognize the structure of a complex melody filled with diminutions and ornamentation.
Practice with 14 solfeggi by Leo, Aprile, and Cotumacci, suitable for Tenors and Sopranos, as well as for Basses and Altos.
Stages
🎼 6.1 – Hexachords in the Tonal System
🎼 6.2 – Hexachords on Bach’s Invention n. 1
🎼 6.3 – Accenti, Fioretti, and Gorga
🎼 6.4 – From Simple to Complex
🎼 6.5 – Practice 1: Leo, G Major
🎼 6.6 – Practice 2: Leo, G Major
🎼 6.7 – Practice 3: Leo, D Major
🎼 6.8 – Practice 4: Leo, E Minor
🎼 6.9 – Practice 5: Leo, E Minor
🎼 6.10 – Practice 6: Leo, F Minor
🎼 6.11 – Practice 7: Aprile, F Major
🎼 6.12 – Practice 8: Aprile, D Minor
🎼 6.13 – Practice 9: Aprile, B-flat Major
🎼 6.14 – Practice 10: Aprile, A Major
🎼 6.15 – Practice 11: Aprile, A-flat Major
🎼 6.16 – Practice 12: Aprile, E-flat Major
🎼 6.17 – Practice 13: Cotumacci, B Minor
🎼 6.18 – Practice 14: Cotumacci, A Minor
103 Lessons
103 Stages and Video Lessons that you can watch and study anytime you want, from the online platform.
200 Pages
200 PDF pages of examples
exercises, and resources to follow the lessons, take notes, and do plenty of practice.
Questions
Comment under each stage to ask your questions and satisfy your curiosity as a Musicus Practicus.
Learn More about Solmization!
Discover everything you will learn and preview some images we’ll use to learn together!
