August 5 - Guillaume Du Fay (The Musical Birthday Series, 2nd Annual Cycle)

Guillaume Dufay (5 August, c. 1397 – 27 November 1474) was one of the greatest composers in Western music history.

[For last year's offering, also on Dufay, click here.]

Fie on You

When I was young we said  /dju: ‘faI/,*

But now, although I don’t know why,

We’re told it’s more correct if we

Pronounce his name as [dy fa(j)i]**

Dufay has changed when it is spoken,

And as an orthographic token,

Du Fay, when written, now is broken.

*Dew-FIE

**Dui-fa-ee

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 [Also, please visit my other blog: Alternate Tales: Great Art Repurposed.]