He adapted it from a number of earlier musical systems, including the Norwich Sol-fa method of Sarah Ann Glover (1785–1867) of Norwich.
Curwen, son of John Spencer Curwen of the music publishing company, and grandson of John Curwen, founder of the Tonic sol-fa system, was educated at Abbotsholme School in Derbyshire, then New College, Oxford.
The names most often associated with the 'movement' in Britain are John Curwen (1816–1880), Sarah Ann Glover (1785–1867) and John Pyke Hullah (1812–84), However it had its philosophical roots in Europe, particularly in the social idealism of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.
The chorus sings "Do re mi fa so la si do" despite the fact that the work of John Curwen had earlier substituted "Do re mi fa so la ti do" as the English standard.
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Tonic sol-fa (or Tonic sol-fah) is a pedagogical technique for teaching sight-singing, invented by Sarah Ann Glover (1785–1867) of Norwich, England and popularised by John Curwen who adapted it from a number of earlier musical systems.
The names most often associated with the 'movement' in Britain are John Curwen (1816–1880), Sarah Anne Glover(1785–1867) and John Pyke Hullah (1812–24), However it had its philosophical roots in Europe, particularly in the social idealism of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi.