A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Voces Belgicæ

by William Smyth Rockstro

VOCES BELGICÆ. A name given to the syllables Bo, Ce, Di, Ga, Lo, Ma, Ni, proposed by the Flemish Composer, Huberto Waelrant, about the middle of the 16th century, as a substitute for the syllables used for the purpose of Solmisation by Guido d'Arezzo. As the word 'Solmisation' was incompatible with the use of the newly-invented formula, it was replaced by the terms 'Bocedisation,' or 'Bobisation'; but the system was not destined to survive the century which gave it birth. [See Solmisation.]

A similar attempt was made, at Stuttgart, by Daniel Hitzler, who, early in the iyth century, used the syllables La, Be, Ce, De, Me, Fe, Ge, under the name of Bebisation.

A century later, Graun, under the name of 'Damenisation,' used Da, Me, Ni, Po, Tu, La, Be.

[ W. S. R. ]