The First Notes

Written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton · Illustrated by Chiara Fedele

Discover how a monk's musical breakthrough changed history and inspired a timeless song.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 381 ratings

48 pages

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Journey back to a time when music had no written form. Young monk Guido dreams of capturing melodies on paper. Despite skepticism, he invents the musical scale, revolutionizing music forever. This enchanting picture book, with illustrated lyrics of 'Do-Re-Mi,' reveals Guido's enduring legacy and connection to the beloved song from The Sound of Music. Will his passion and perseverance resonate through the ages?

From the publisher

A stunning new picture book from beloved icon Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, that introduces readers to the remarkable story of the development of written music, and speaks to the beauty of music and the power of perseverance. Featuring the illustrated lyrics to “Do-Re-Mi” and an author’s note about Julie Andrews’s connection to the classic Rodgers &amp; Hammerstein song! Centuries ago, a young Italian monk named Guido longed to find a way to write and teach music. Eventually, he created the musical scale, using the words Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do…one syllable for each note. Though the other monks thought it was a waste of time, Guido’s music couldn’t be silenced. His discovery remains the foundation for learning music today, and inspired the famous song “Do-Re-Mi,” which Julie Andrews sang in the beloved movie The Sound of Music. This richly illustrated picture book from beloved icon Julie Andrews and her daughter, bestselling author Emma Walton Hamilton, introduces readers to the remarkable story of Guido d’Arezzo’s development of musical notation. In addition to the lyrics of “Do-Re-Mi” illustrated in full color, the backmatter includes an author’s note, extensive historical notes, and a glossary.

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