The "original" Sound of Music

[jbuck919]

Many of you may know about this, but I just stumbled on a German movie called The Trapp Family. Now you'd think, wouldn't you, that a German movie (yes, I mean German, and know that the Trapps were Austrian) couldn't possibly be as sappy and sentimental as The Sound of Music. Well, you'd be wrong. In fact, the two movies are very similar, and the German film was the inspiration for the American play/film. You can watch the entire German film (in pieces, with subtitles) on YouTube, and read the story about it on Wikipedia.

[John F]

When I was 8 years old, the Trapp Family came to Lancaster for a Christmas concert, probably in the Community Concert series. They were:

Agatha Trapp, Elonor Trapp, first sopranos
Maria Trapp, second soprano
Mailina Trapp, Hedwig Trapp, first altos
Mailina Augusta Trapp, second alto
Werner Trapp, tenor
Dr. Franz Wasner, bass and conductor
Rosmarig Trapp, Johannes Trapp, recorders

The program:
I
Lassus, Surrexit pastor bonus
Italian Laude (xv century): O Maria Diana Stella
Gregorian chant (mode II): Introit "Cibavit Eos"
Palestrina: Kyrie and Agnus Dei, Missa Brevis

II
anon: Sumer is icumen in
A. Scandelli: The Little White Hen (Ein Hennlein Weiss)
Dowland: Come, Heavy Sleep

III
Couperin: Le rossignol en amour (alto recorder, viola da gamba, virginals)
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, suite (Prelude, air, rondo, prelude)
Handel: Sonata in B flat, andante and allegro
Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

intermission

IV. Christmas carols
Hirten auf um Mitternacht (Tyrolean)
The First Nowell (English)
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (English)
All in the Morning (English)
The Virgin's Lullaby (from Salzburg)
Stille Nacht (Gruber)

I have only the faintest recollection of this event, beyond that it happened. But my parents kept the program, I still have it, and this is what was in it. It really was the Trapp family!

[jbuck919]

When I was 8 years old, the Trapp Family came to Lancaster for a Christmas concert, probably in the Community Concert series. They were:

Agatha Trapp, Elonor Trapp, first sopranos
Maria Trapp, second soprano
Mailina Trapp, Hedwig Trapp, first altos
Mailina Augusta Trapp, second alto
Werner Trapp, tenor
Dr. Franz Wasner, bass and conductor
Rosmarig Trapp, Johannes Trapp, recorders

The program:
I
Lassus, Surrexit pastor bonus
Italian Laude (xv century): O Maria Diana Stella
Gregorian chant (mode II): Introit "Cibavit Eos"
Palestrina: Kyrie and Agnus Dei, Missa Brevis

II
anon: Sumer is icumen in
A. Scandelli: The Little White Hen (Ein Hennlein Weiss)
Dowland: Come, Heavy Sleep

III
Couperin: Le rossignol en amour (alto recorder, viola da gamba, virginals)
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, suite (Prelude, air, rondo, prelude)
Handel: Sonata in B flat, andante and allegro
Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

intermission

IV. Christmas carols
Hirten auf um Mitternacht (Tyrolean)
The First Nowell (English)
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (English)
All in the Morning (English)
The Virgin's Lullaby (from Salzburg)
Stille Nacht (Gruber)

I have only the faintest recollection of this event, beyond that it happened. But my parents kept the program, I still have it, and this is what was in it. It really was the Trapp family!

Good heavens! So much for the "Salzburg Folk Festival."

The German movie uses entirely folk or quasi-folk music. (Stille Nacht is of course a relatively recent piece whose composer is known.) At one point they sing something that brought me straight back to the John Schaum piano books for beginners with all their tunes set to silly words. I don't think anybody here could address this, not even Don Isler, but it never occurred to me that a tune with the words "Tuna fish, tuna fish, sing a song of tuna fish" etc. (I remember the whole thing to this day) could have its origin in an Austrian or otherwise Germanic folk song.

[John F]

I've just found out that Franz Wasner, the bass and conductor, was originally the Trapps' priest and acted as their musical advisor, arranger, etc. for over 20 years, beginning before they left Austria. He was a composer too. The family ensemble may well have begun with folksongs but when they went public, developed a more varied repertoire, including early classical music, under Wasner's influence and reflecting his taste.

I also found out, five minutes ago, that in 1950 the Trapp Family returned to Salzburg and gave three concerts as an official part of the Festival. As follows:

TRAPP-KONZERTE

Leitung: Franz Wasner
Ausführende: Familie Trapp (Agathe, Eleonore, Maria, Martina, Maria Auguste, Hedwig, Werner) und Franz Wasner

10. August, 20 Uhr Mozarteum
Werke von O. de Lassus, G. Palestrina, Th. Morley, O. Gibbons, A. Vivaldi, G. F. Händel, J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart (canons "Ave Maria" and "Auf das Wohl aller Freunde"), und J. Brahms; Volkslieder

19. August, 17 Uhr, Domplatz (i.e. open air)
Werke von J. S. Bach, G. Palestrina, J. E. Eberlin, G. Aichinger, H. L. Hassler, M. Praetorius, H. Isaac, J. Dowland, G. F. Händel, J. W. Hässler und Volkslieder

KIRCHENKONZERT

15. August, 20 Uhr, Kollegienkirche

Musikalisches Weihestunde

Leitung: Franz Wasner
Ausführende: Familie Trapp (Agathe, Eleonore, Maria, Martina, Maria Auguste, Hedwig, Werner) und Franz Wasner
Werke von P. de la Rue, Cl. Casciolini, W. A. Mozart ("Ave verum corpus"), T. L. de Victoria, O. de Lassus, König Johann IV von Portugal, A. Lotti, J. E. Eberlin und F. Wasner

I don't suppose any of that made it into "The Sound of Music."

[jserraglio]

CDs: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... ly+Singers


RCA LSP-2277

[John F]

I suppose it had to happen.