Link to the music

A hymn to St. John the Baptist, written by Paul the Deacon in the 8th century. You may never have heard of this hymn, unless you’ve studied music history or theory, as it’s not particularly well-known or popular, but it is actually extraordinarily influential. In this episode, you'll learn about the origin of SOLFEGE, which of course culminated in 1956, when Rogers and Hammerstein composed the most important piece of music ever written; Do, a Deer. Enjoy!

Link to full lyrics (all 13 verses)

For thy spirit, holy John, to chastenLips sin-polluted, fettered tongues to loosen;So by thy children might thy deeds of wonderMeetly be chanted.

Lo! a swift herald, from the skies descending,Bears to thy father promise of thy greatness;How he shall name thee, what thy future story,Duly revealing.

Scarcely believing message so transcendent,Him for a season power of speech forsaketh, Till, at thy wondrous birth, again returneth

Voice to the voiceless.The heavenly citizens celebrate you with lauds, one God and at once triune; we also come imploring forgiveness; spare us among the redeemed.

Thou, in thy mother's womb all darkly cradled, Knewest thy Monarch, biding in His chamber, Whence the two parents, through their children's merits, Mysteries uttered.

Praise to the Father, to the Son begotten,And to the Spirit, equal power. possessing,One God whose glory, through the lapse of ages,Ever resoundeth. Amen.

Ut queant laxis resonare fibris mira gestorum famuli tuorum, solve polluti labiis reatum, sancte Joannes.

Nuntius celso veniens Olympo, te patri magnum fore nasciturum, nomen, et vitae seriem gerendae, ordine promit.

Ille promissi dubius superniper didit promptae modulos loquelae; sed reformasti genitus peremptae organa vocis.

Laudibus cives celebrant supernite, Deus simplex pariterque trine; supplices ac nos veniam precamur: parce redemptis.

Ventris obstruso recubans cubili, senseras Regem thalamo manentem: hinc parens, nati, meritis, uterque, abdita pandit.

Sit decus Patri, genitaeque proliet tibi, compare utriusque virtus, Spiritus semper, Deus unus, omni Temporis aevo. Amen.