In English, the notation of music notes uses the letters of the alphabet, from A to G, followed possibly by sharps # or flats ♭ to indicate alterations.
This notation evolved from the Gregorian notation system in the Middle Ages.
In French, the notation system is similar, but the notes are sometimes designated by their solfège names (do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si). The history of music notation is complex and dates back to Antiquity, but the modern notation systems emerged in the Middle Ages in Europe.
Historical sources on this topic include academic works on the history of music and notation systems, such as "A History of Western Music" by J. Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout, and Claude V. Palisca.
The Gregorian Music Notation (Anglo-Saxon)
Gregorian musical notation, used in the Middle Ages, has its origins closely tied to religious music, particularly Gregorian chant. The earliest musical signs emerged during the second half of the 9th century in liturgical manuscripts from the region between the Seine and the Rhine, notably from the abbeys of Saint-Amand and Corbie.

At that time, music was transmitted orally, and the early musical signs, called neumes, primarily aimed to materialize a melodic line, without concern for the absolute pitch of the sounds or their determined duration.
These neumes were a primitive form of musical notation, far from the scores we are familiar with today.
Gregorian notation evolved from these ancient neumes to the square-note notation, which is still used today.
During the period from the 10th to the 12th century, musical notations diversified, and their graphic representation differed according to regions.

The increasing complexity of polyphony led to greater precision in notation, eventually resulting in the introduction of the dimension of time into musical writing.
This gave rise to measured notation, introduced by Francon of Cologne (or Paris) around 1280. This system introduced the concept of time into music, thus contrasting with the plainchant of Gregorian chant, which remained unmeasured.
Medieval music underwent significant evolution in its notation over the centuries, transitioning from primitive forms of neumes to more elaborate systems integrating the dimension of time into musical writing.
Why are the notes named after solfège in French and not after the original Gregorian notation?
The reason why music notes are named after solfège in French rather than after the original Gregorian notation is linked to the evolution of music theory and music education. Solfège, with its syllables (do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si), is used as a pedagogical tool to teach musical notes and intervals.
It provides a mnemonic method to facilitate the learning and memorization of notes. This approach has been widely adopted in music education in France and other French-speaking countries.
Solfège, used for reading, writing, playing, or singing a score, has an ancient history dating back to the Middle Ages. It is attributed to the Italian monk Guido of Arezzo from the 11th century, who is said to have developed this method to facilitate the teaching of chant to other monks in his monastery.
Solfège has structured and evolved over the centuries to become the reference system for so-called "written" music in the Western world. It has been taught in French conservatories since 1669, and its use has spread to other countries, contributing to the standardization of musical language.
Therefore, solfège has played an essential role in the teaching and understanding of classical music, and its evolution has been marked by reforms aimed at simplifying its learning, notably through "musical training" in conservatories.
Conclusion
Thus, the reason why solfège is used in French and Gregorian notation in English is deeply rooted in the history and evolution of these systems within their respective contexts.
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