GUIDO ARETINO, so called from his birthplace, Arezzo, was a monk of the Bene dictine order, and flourished about the year 1030, but neither the elate of his birth nor death is known. He has the reputation of being the inventor of musical notation. and the regenerator of music. The circumstances which led to Guido's invention are differ ently stated; but, the most reliable account seems to be, that on one occasion while chanting with the monastery choir a hymn in honor of St. John, he was struck with the gradual and regularly ascending tones of the opening syllabic sounds of each heini stitch, in the three first verses: Ut queant Taxis re-sonare fibris Mi-ra gestorum tuorum Sol-ve polluti reatum, etc.
With the intuitive foresight of genius, he instantly, we are told, comprehended the fitness of these sounds to form a new and perfect system of solfeggio, and forthwith proceeded to mature and systematize this idea. On introducing his new theory into
practice among the youthful choristers of the monastery, the experiment proved entirely successful. The fame of Guido's musical invention drew upon him the attention of the pope (John XX.), who invited him to Rome. Guido repaired thither, and obtained a very gratifying reception. The pope himself found pleasure in becoming a student of the new system, under the guidance of its founder and teacher. Ill health, however, compelled Guido to return to the pure and bracing climate of his- birthplace, and, re entering the monastery of Pomposa, he there tranquilly ended his clays. Guido has left some writings, explanatory of his musical doctrines, viz., the Micrologus 1 and the Argumentum Novi Cunha inteniendi.