Anonymous (German)
Der neue Bauernschwanze
The Glogauer Liederbuch is a manuscript of three part-books containing over 200 pieces compiled in the 1480’s. A modern edition is in ‘Das Erbe Deutche Musik’. Before WWII the ms. was in Berlin; it survived the war and is now in Cracow, Poland. Sixty of the pieces are untexted and presumably for instruments. A number of these have “Schwanze” = “tail” in the title, e.g. “Natterschwanze” = “Adder’s tail” or “Pfauenschwanze” = “Peacock’s tail” . . . who knew farmers even had tails, let alone new ones!
Anon (German) "Der neue Bauernschwanze"
Entlaubet ist der Walde
This little, almost canonic, duo is just one of a large number of different settings of what must have been a well-known folk-song. It is from a collection edited by Helmut Mönkemeyer and printed by Schott, and first printed in 1545.
Anon (German) "Entlaubet ist der Walde"
Herzlich tut mich erfreuen
This lovely setting of a well-known text by Johann Walter is masterfully through-composed . . . a near ecstatic jubilation of the redeemed. It is expert enough to be by Michael Praetorius himself, but is uncredited in his ‘Musae Sionae’–that prodigious collection of over 1200 compositions by Praetorious and others, completed in 1610. The complete works of Michael Praetorius were published by Möseler Verlag under the general editorship of Friedrich Blume.
Anon (German) "Herzlich tut mich erfreuen"
Text:
Herzlich tut mich erfreuen die liebe Sommerzeit,
wenn Gott wird schön erneuen alles zur Ewigkeit.
Den Himmel und die Erde wird Gott neu schaffen gar
all Kreatur soll werden ganz herrlich, schön und klar.
Alsdenn wird Gott erlösen uns gar von aller Not
Vom Teuvel, allem Bösen, von Trübsal, Angst und Spott.
Von Trauren, Weh, und Klagen, von Krankheit, Schmerz und Leid,
Von Schwermut, Sorg und Sagen, von aller bösenZeit.
Wir werden stets mit Schalle für Gottes Stuhl und Thron
mit Freuden singen alle ein neues Lied gar schon:
Lob, Ehr, Preis, Kraft und Stärke Gott Vater und dem Sohn,
des Heilgen Geistes Werke sei Lob und Dank getan.
Frölich ich pfleg zu singen wenn ich solch Freud betracht
Und geh in vollen Schwingen mein Hertz für Freuden lacht,
Mein Gmüt tut sich hoch schwingen von dieser Welt mit Macht
Sehn mich zu solchen Dingen der Welt ich gar nichts acht.
Drum wollen nicht verzagen die jetzt in Trübsal seind,
Und die die Welt tut plagen und ist ihn spinnen feind.
Sie wollen ihr Kreuz tragen im Friede mit Geduld,
Auf Gottes wort sich wagen, sich trösten Gottes Huld.
Ach Herr durch deine Güte führ uns auf rechter Bahn,
Herr Christ uns wollst behüten, sonst möcht wir irre gahn.
Halt uns in Glauben feste in diese bösen Zeit.
Hilf dass wir uns stets rüsten zur ewig Hochzeitfreud.
Hiemit will ich beschliessen das fröhlich Sommerlied
So wird gar bald aufspriessen die ewig Sommerblüt.
Das ewig Jahr erfliessen Gott geb in selben Jahr,
Dass wir der Frucht geniessen, Amen das werde Wahr.
Dass wir der Frucht geniessen, Amen das werde Wahr.
Translation:
O how great is my gladness in that summertime
When God will renew everything eternally.
The earth and heaven God will create anew.
All creatures will be transfigured, beautiful and pure.
Then will God redeem us completely from all peril,
From the devil and all evils, from all need, misery, fear, scorn,
From sorrow, grief, lamentations, from sickness, pain and hurt
From despair, timidity and melancholy, and from all evil times.
We will always make a glad sound before God’s holy throne.
And with joy all sing a new song right away
Honor, laud, power and strength to God the Father and the Son
And to the works of the Holy Ghost be praise and thanks given.
I always sing happily when I contemplate such joy,
And floating on a cloud my heart with joy doth laugh.
My soul soars on high freely away from this world
I yearn for such things and heed not the world at all.
There are those who now may be in despair,
The world torments them, spinning them perilously,
But they will carry their cross in peace and patience.
By God’s word daring to console themselves.
O Lord show us the Way by Thy goodness,
And Lord Christ guide us lest we go astray.
Keep us firm in faith in this evil time.
Help us that we always prepare for the Wedding Eternal.
Here I will end my joyful Summer song.
So soon the Eternal Summer blossoms will grow.
The Eternal Year approaches, God grant it be this year,
Oh that we may enjoy such fruit! Amen it will be so!
Oh that we may enjoy such fruit! Amen it will be so!
Hungarian Dance
Anon (German) "Hungarian Dance"
Jauchzet dem Herren alle Welt
This fine chorale concertato is found in the Clausholm fragments–manuscript sheets used to repair the bellows of the 18th century organ of Clausholm Castle in Denmark. The pieces in the ms. are mostly by German composers of the early 17th century, but “Jauchzet dem Herren” the grandest of the collection with double chorus a8 is unattributed. The editors, Henrick Glahn and Søren Sørensen, were obliged to supply missing notes where the manuscript had been torn or eaten by mice.
Anon (German) "Jauchzet dem Herren"
Text:
Refrain: Jauchzet dem Herren alle Welt.
Singet, rümet, und lobet.
Verse: Mein Herz ist bereitet, Gott
Dass ich singe und lobe.
Refrain: Jauchzet . . .
Verse: Wache auf, meine Ehre
Wache auf, Psalter und Harfen,
Fruh will ich aufwachen, Herr,
Ich will dir danken, unter den Völkern, Herr.
Refrain: Jauchzet . . .
Verse: Ich will dir lobsingen, unter den Leuten.
Denn deiner Güte ist so weit
Der Himmel ist und deiner Warheit
So weit die Wolken gehen.
Refrain: Jauchzet . . .
Translation:
Refrain: Rejoice in the Lord all ye lands.
Sing, honour and praise.
Verse: My heart is ready, o Lord,
That I sing and praise Thee.
Refrain: Rejoice . . .
Verse: Awake, my soul!
Awake, psaltery and harp!
I will arise early, Lord,
I will give Thee thanks among the peoples, Lord.
Refrain: Rejoice . . .
Verse: I will sing Thy praise, among the nations.
For Thy goodness is as wide as
The heavens and Thy truth
Reaches beyond the clouds.
Refrain: Rejoice . . .
Nun zu diesen Zeiten
Celebrations of St Martin’s Day, November 11, seemed in 16th century Germany bound to include roast goose and “guten Wein”, according to a fair number of songs written for the occasion. This one is from Georg Forster’s mid-16th century collections of German polyphonic song, ‘Frische teutche Liedlein’, (380 in all) as brought forth by Kurt Gudewill and Heinrich Siuts in Vol. 60 of ‘Das Erbe Deutsche Musik.
Sung with gusto . . . we refrained from pounding our wine-mugs on the table along with the ‘tactus’.
Anon (German) "Nun zu diesen Zeiten"
Text:
Nun zu diesen Zeiten sollen wir alle frölich sein,
Gänsvögel bereiten, dazu trinken ein’ guten Wein,
Singen und hofieren in Sanct Mertes Ehr.
Cum jubilo omnes clamate cum ju-ju-ju-bilo
ut sit Deum rogans bratne Gans, rogans Gans.
Martine lieber Herre mein,
Nun schenk uns nur gar dapfer ein.
Ja heut in deinen Ehren
wollen wir alle Frölich sein,
O Martine, Martine!
Translation:
Now in these times we should all rejoice—
Roast some goose and drink some good wine,
Sing and pay court in honor of St. Martin. Always sing out in jubilation . . .
And pray to God for—roast goose.
Martin, my dear lord,
Now pour a full measure.
Today, in your honor
We will all be merry.
O Martin! Martin!
O rosa bella/In feuers Hitz
The quadlibet form is perhaps more prevalent in the German repertoire than in others of the 15th and 16th centuries, although there is plenty of it to go around. (The following piece in the Glogauer Liederbuch is also a quadlibet.) England seems to be relatively free of this apparent need to throw pre-existing melodies together in a pot and stir. In this case a perfectly beautiful melody by the Englishman, Johannes Bedyngham, is successively counterpointed by 20-odd snippets of German love songs. Fortunately, “O rosa bella” survives intact.
Anon(German) "O rosa bella/In feuers Hitz"
Text: (upper voice)
O rosa bella, o dolce anima mia,
non me lassar morir in cortesia.
Al lasso mi dolente, don finire,
per ben servire e lialmente amare.
(lower vice)
In feuers Hitz so brennet mein Herz.
Mein liebste zart. Es leit mir hart.
Hilf und gib Rat. Sei wohlgemut.
Seh in mein Herz. Mein traut Gesell.
Der Mai ist hin. Wunschlichin schone.
Sig, sold und heil, im herzen Geil.
Ich sachs eins mals. Mein einziges Heil.
Gesein dich Gott. So, so mein liebste Zart.
Ich wuste nie, was rechte liebe was.
Mein ist vergessen. O senens Kraft.
Fruntlicher Ort, was zeistu mich.
Hab ich lib so leid ist not.
Tu auf, mein allerlibste lib. Zu aller Zeit.
Ich far dahin und das muss sein.
Translation: (upper voice)
O lovely rose, oh my sweet soul
do not let me die of courtly love.
Alas! must I end hurt by you
having served so well in loyal love?
(lower voice)
In fire’s heat my love burns.
My tender love. It troubles me.
Help and give cousel. Be joyous.
Look into my heart. My dear friend.
May has gone. Desirable fair one.
Success, cash and luck, and a heart full of lust.
One time I saw. My only hope.
God bless you. So, my dear beloved.
I never knew what real love was.
I am forgotten. O force of desire.
A friendly place, what brings you here.
If I love, then I suffer.
Open, my dearest. At all times.
I’m going away and that must be.
Tret’ herzu, ihr lieben/In Martini festo
Two more St. Martin’s “goose and wine” songs from Georg Forster’s collection (1540), The macaronic Latin/German text indicates student origins; lack of musicality is made up in enthusiasm. One can understand why they remained anonymous!
Anon (German) "Tret' herzu, ihr lieb"
Tret’ herzu, ihr lieben G’sellen,
all’ zu der Gans.
Die Gans die hat ein’ langen dicken
feisten weidelichen Kragen,
den lassent uns nagen,
trauter schöner auserwählter Hans.
Nun ratet zu wie heisst die Gans? Gans!
Den kühlen Wein schenkt ein,
lasst uns frölich sein, o Martine!
In Martini festo solln wir alle frölich sein,
cordeque non mesto trinken den kühlen Wein.
Als sie ist per gentem Gänsvögel und Enten,
wohl gekocht und wohl gemacht,
wohl gesotten and wohl gemacht.
Rogans ‘bratne Gans, rogans ‘bratne Gans.
Hic est Martinus, vir vere divinus,
gar ein milder Mann.
beschert uns die guten Kapaun,
Auerhahn, Haushahn, Haselhahn, Rebhahn,
Schneegäns, Wildgäns, ‘kocht Gäns,
‘bratne Gäns, und allerlei Gäns.
Come here, you fellows,
look at this goose.
The goose has a long,
thick, fat neck.
Let’s eat it.
Dear, good-looking, distinguished Hans,
Tell us, what is the goose called? GOOSE!
Bring us some cool wine and let us rejoice.
Oh! Saint Martin.
At the feast of St. Martin we should celebrate,
from the heart, not rowdy, drink the cool wine.
Geese and ducks, well-cooked
and well-prepared are for people,
“let us pray” for roast goose,
“let us pray” for roast goose
This Martin here, a man of God,
a gentle man.
He gives us good capons:
Wild cockerels, farm cockerels, hazel
roosters, partridges, snowgeese, wild goose,
cooked goose, roast goose, just every kind
of goose.
Wohlauf, wohlauf jung und alt
Another rowdy song from Georg Forster’s 1540 collection No Latin here . . . more for the country squire and the hunting set; it’s difficult to speculate the occasion for which this song would have been written and who would have performed it.
Anon(German) "Wohlauf, wohlauf jung und alt"
Wohlauf, wohlauf, Jung und Alt, resch und bald, dass sein Gott heut selber walt. Der Tag her dringt, der Vogel singt, dass allenthalb’ in dem Wald erklingt. Ihr Ritter und Knecht merckt eben recht ob ich ein Hirsch zuwegen brächt. Wohlauf, wohlauf, Jung und Alt resch und bald dass sein Gott heut selber walt. Wohlauf gut G’sell, was hör ich da, hernach lass fahren, mich dünkt es sei ein Hirsch gar noh, lass fahren ins Garen. Wuff wuff wuff wuff . . . hernach ihr lieben Hund . . . hernach ihr lieben Hund!
Wuff wuff wuff wuff . . . da lauft der edel Hirsch daher. Wuff wuff wuff wuff . . . Du hast noch recht guter Gesell. Daher, daher, daher, daher . . . Wuff wuff wuff wuff . . . Kommt herfür mit grossem Schall. Kommt herfür, ihr lieben Hund all.
Wuff wuff wuff wuff . . . da lauft der edel Hirsch daher, trauter Hund. Nun kommt herzu, ihr G’sellen all, und greifet zu mit reichem Schall.
Get up! Get up! Young and old, quick and brave, may God Himself bless you today. The day fast dawns, the birds are singing making the forest ring. You knights and servants watch how I bring back a stag today. Get up! Get up! Young and old, quick and brave, may God Himself bless you today. Come on, lad, what was that? I think it’s a stag, after him! after him pell-mell. Woof! woof! woof! woof! . . . good dog! . . after him! . . Good dog! . . after him!
Woof! woof! woof! woof! . . . There he goes, the noble stag . . . Woof! woof! woof! woof! . . . That’s right, boys . . . go, go, go, go . . . Woof! woof! woof! woof! . . . Come on with your loud barking . . . come on all you good dogs.
Woof! woof! woof! woof! . . . Here comes the noble stag, good dog! And now comes all the company to join our noisy celebration.