Mus. Also 6 solefay, 6–7 sol fa, 6–9 solfa. [See prec.]
1. trans. To sing (a tune, air, etc.) to the sol-fa syllables. Also fig.
1568. V. Skinner, trans. Montanus’ Inquisit., 40 b. He … shall not be suffered to speake but in a very low note, whereof they themselues will apoint him the tune, and Solfa it before him.
1597. T. Morley, Introd. Mus., III. 156. You shall not find a musicion … able to sol fa it right.
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 15. He that will Solfa any Song, must aboue all things haue an eye to the Tone.
1730. Treat. Harmony (1731), 78. When we would solfa any Musick that is written in a Transpos’d Key.
1767. Ann. Reg., Ess., 198/2. I sol-fa’d them exactly by note, without any ornament.
1833. A. Clarke, in J. B. B. Clarke, Life, I. 61. Each tune was at first sol-fa’d, till it was tolerably well learned.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 5383, The teacher Sol-fas a short musical phrase while he points to the notes on the Modulator.
2. intr. To sing in this manner; to use the sol-fa syllables in singing.
1584. Peele, Arraignm. Paris, V. i. Music sounds, and the Nymphs within sing or solfa with voices and instruments awhile.
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 14. To Sol fa … is to expresse the Syllables, and the names of the Voyces.
1623. Middleton, More Dissemblers, V. i. Let whoso would Sol Fa, I’ld give them my part.
1730. Treat. Harmony, 64. Solfaing from D to D, we shall find the Sillables to be the same. Ibid., 77. The Leading Part and the Answer to it must Solfa alike.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 7. To all appearance you sol-fa with your whole heart and soul.
1838. W. Gardiner, Music & Friends, II. 807. In the singing-room they were solfaing in every kind of voice.
1883. Grove’s Dict. Music, III. 545.
† b. With it. Obs.–1
1692. L’Estrange, Fables, I. cccxi. His Son follow’d the Corps, Singing. Why Sirrah, says the Father; You should Howle and Wring your Hands,… and not go Sol-Fa-ing it about like a Mad-man.
Hence Sol-faer, one who sol-fas; Sol-faist, an adherent of the (tonic) sol-fa system.
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 15. Euery Solfaer must needs looke, whether the Song be regular, or no.
1882. Athenæum, 24 June, 806/2. We think that the Sol-faists have made out a most excellent case in the replies which Mr. Curwen has collected.
1883. American, VI. 174. The sol-faists are now a power in the musical world.
