Solfege's Start

The article from New Advent describes the use of this hymn during today's Divine Office/Liturgy of the Hours. Wikipedia gives another brief account of its history. It is the cornerstone of sight reading and ear training for musicians.

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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 superni

per didit promptae modulos loquelae;

sed reformasti genitus peremptae

organa vocis.

Laudibus cives celebrant superni

te, 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 proli

et tibi, compare utriusque virtus,

Spiritus semper, Deus unus, omni

Temporis aevo. Amen.

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For thy spirit, holy John, to chasten

Lips sin-polluted, fettered tongues to loosen;

So by thy children might thy deeds of wonder

Meetly 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.