Do-Re-Mi by Julie Andrews

Album: The Sound of Music Soundtrack (1965)

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

This song is used by Julie Andrews' character, Maria, in the film and stage production of The Sound Of Music, to teach the notes of the major musical scale to the Von Trapp children. Nowadays this is frequently one of the first songs that children will learn to play on simple musical instruments.
An 11th century monk Guido D'Arezzo wrote the words to the mnemonic, although the original, taken from a medieval Latin poem, begins "ut (rather than do), re, mi, fa, so, la." D'Arezzo's tune was different from the Sound Of Music version, but used the same system of ascending notes. He based his tune on an anthem for Saint John.
The musical scale Do-Re-Mi sings the notes of the C major scale, but this song is actually in another key, which is B flat. , for above 2 >>
Suggestion credit:
Miguel - Guayaquil, South America
Here's the Saint John's Anthem where Guido D'Arezzo created the musical notes:
UTqueant laxis
REsonare fibris
MIla gestorum
FAmuli tuorum
SOLve polluti
LAbii reatum
Sanct Ioannes
>>
Suggestion credit:
Miguel - Guayaquil - South America
Madonna references this song in her 1992 track "Deeper and Deeper" with the lyrics "When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything."

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Comments: 6

Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 2nd 1965, the movie 'The Sound of Music' had its world premiere in New York City...
The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five; 'Best Picture', 'Best Actress' {Julie Andrews}, 'Best Director' {Robert Wise}, 'Best Editing', and 'Best Musical Score'...
On November 7th, 1965 the movie’s soundtrack album peaked at #1 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart…
Three covered versions of songs from the film have made Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" by Tony Bennett {#74}, "Do-Re-Mi" by Mitch Miller {#70}, and "The Sound of Music" by Patti Page {#90}.
Cesarcosio from Guadalajara, Mexicoan excelent new version is now very popular trough youtube as a marketing promo at metro stations around the world
Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaHomer Simpson's version:
Dough. . . the stiff that buys me beer
Ray. . . the guy who pous my beer
Me. . . the guy who's drinking beer
Fa. . . a long way rto go get beer
So. . . I'll have another beer
La. . . la la I'm drinking beer
Tea. . . no thanks, I'm drinking beer
. . .& that brings us back to (looks into empty beer mug) D'Oh!
Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomNot a huge fan of this musical, but this was cute.
Miguel from Guayaquil, South AmericaIt's not Guuido D'Abruzzo... It's Guido D'Arezzo. And it's not the Ode to Phyllis, it's the Saint John's Anthem...
Mark from Lancaster, OhIf the song is indeed used for music instruction, it's probably the only instructional song written by a major Broadway songwriting team. The copyrights must be interesting.

see more comments

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.