Search - Erich Kunzel :: German University Songs 5

Wonderful singing, wonderful songs

Robin Boone | San Diego, CA USA | 01/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So you can *pretend* you understand Tscherman. The lyrics, in English and in German, are included. Erich Kunz manages to make each song its own little world, and what wonderful songs. I love all 5 records in this set - I'm sorry the first 2 are hard to find (one of those is my other fave of this series). The solo pieces alternate with pieces with a choir, and as on the other 4 records, you can tell all involved felt a tremendous affection for these songs - singers, orchestra, conductor, everyone. The set is a wonderful way to learn the folksongs that are part of the heritage of the German language. "Ich hab' die Nacht getraumet" is a wonderful night-shadowed Victorian mood piece, like a (if you can picture this) sweet Edward Gorey drawing. "The Pinschgauers go on a pilgrimage" (by choir) is a humorous skit - you picture these stalwart, happy pilgrims, so full of faith and so inept, going on a pilgrimate to see their beloved saint and assoted things screw up as they go along. And who can ignore the story of the tailor who goes to Hell and drives everyone there so crazy they send him away (choir and Kunz together)? "There is a reaper whose name is death" (choir) is an oddly comforting but also sad song, and like others in the various collections taken from the wonderful classic, Des Knaben Wunderhorn (a collection of German folksongs collected by a poet in the 19th c.). The solemn, rousing "Prinz Eugen" (choir) is worth the whole album -then turn around and listen to Dietrich Fischer Dieskau singing Lowe's Lieder with the same title, telling the story of the making of this song! "The Two King's Children" is based on Greek mythology; Kunz becomes a medieval troubadour when he sings that. He is a cheerful Schwob when he sings the delightful "Drunten in Unterland" (in a bit of a Swabian accent, probably not a challenge in Austria, where so many Danube Swabians settled in the 1840s). The bold last song, in a knight's voice, the linen-weaver's song - I could go on and on, it's a gallery of stories and characters.I love Erich Kunz, and these 5 records are why. I hope they stay in print forever. Enjoy."

German Univeristy and Folk Songs

Robin Boone | 04/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent rendition of German university and folk songs by
Erich Kunz,one of the outstanding performers of the Vienna Opera. Unlike newer recordings of these songs (which practically all tend to be done in a kitchish "oompah-oompah" style), these versions are are done in the manner in which the songs were meant to be performed. Kunz is backed up by a singers from the Vienna Opera and performs under the direction of Anton Paulik ... so the music is solid, the direction is crisp and the arrangement of the music adds to the depth and distinctness of each song. Most traditional German music today is split into either classical or the beer garden variety. This series demonstrates what the music was like before that split occured. The songs here range from 15th Century to the middle of the 20th and come from the various regions of both Germany and Austria. Notes on German music throughout this period and the composers and songs are well written and provide an good insight into what went into the making of these pieces. The CD's also come with complete lyrics to all the songs in both German and English."