“Ut queant laxis.” The names we use for the notes of the scale were taken from the initial syllables of each verse of this hymn.
St. John the Baptist is an exceptional figure: his birth was miraculous, his mission was cut short by his tragic death. That mission was to preach the coming of Jesus Christ: ”He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3, 30). The feast of St. John the Evangelist, who proclaimed Christ to the world, is celebrated on the winter solstice, when the days begin to grow longer. By contrast, the feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated on the summer solstice, when the daylight begins to wane...