O Tannenbaum
{{Short description|German song about a fir tree, associated in English with Christmas}}
{{redirect|O Christmas Tree|the album by Celtic Woman|O Christmas Tree (album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = {{Lang|de|O Tannenbaum|italic=no}}
| cover = Abies alba1.jpg
| caption = Silver fir (Abies alba)
| type =
| language = German
| English_title = O Christmas Tree
| written =
| published = 1824
| writer = Ernst Anschütz, based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| composer =
| lyricist =
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = song
| file = U.S. Army Band - O Tannenbaum.ogg
| description = Bilingual performance of the first verse by the United States Army Band Chorus
}}
}}
"{{Lang|de|O Tannenbaum|italic=no}}" ({{IPA|de|oː ˈtanənbaʊm|lang}}; "O fir tree"), known in English as "O Christmas Tree", is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song that was unrelated to the holiday, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree.
History
The modern lyrics were written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness.{{cite magazine|magazine=TIME|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/17/yule-laugh-yule-cry-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-beloved-holiday-songs/|title=Yule Laugh, Yule Cry: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs (With holiday cheer in the air, TIME takes a closer look at some of the weird stories behind our favorite seasonal tunes)| author=Wook Kim|date=December 17, 2012}} – [https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/17/yule-laugh-yule-cry-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-beloved-holiday-songs/ "O Tannenbaum" (p. 5)]
Anschütz based his text on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}, "{{Lang|de|Ach Tannenbaum|italic=no}}". In 1819 August Zarnack wrote a tragic love song inspired by this folk song, taking the evergreen, "faithful" fir tree as contrasting with a faithless lover. The folk song first became associated with Christmas with Anschütz, who added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in the course of the 19th century, and the song came to be seen as a Christmas carol. Anschütz's version still had {{Lang|de|treu}} (true, faithful) as the adjective describing the fir's leaves (needles), harking back to the contrast to the faithless maiden of the folk song. This was changed to {{Lang|de|grün}} (green) at some point in the 20th century, after the song had come to be associated with Christmas.[http://www.liederlexikon.de/lieder/o_tannenbaum "O Tannenbaum"] by Tobias Widmaier, Populäre und traditionelle Lieder. Historisch-kritisches Liederlexikon des Deutschen Volksliedarchivs (2007) {{in lang|de}}
Melody
<<
\new Voice \relative c' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"clarinet"
\autoBeamOff
\language "deutsch"
\tempo 4 = 90 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
\key f \major
\time 3/4 \partial 8
c8 f8. f16 f4. g8 a8. a16 a4.
a8 g a b4 e, g f r8
c'8 c a d4. c8 c8. b16 b4.
b8 b g c4. b8 b8. a16 a4 r8
c,8 f8. f16 f4. g8 a8. a16 a4.
a8 g a b4 e, g f r8
\bar "|."
}
\addlyrics {
O Tan -- nen -- baum, o Tan -- nen -- baum,
wie treu sind dei -- ne Blät -- ter.
Du grünst nicht nur zur Som -- mer -- zeit,
nein, auch im Win -- ter, wenn es schneit.
O Tan -- nen -- baum, o Tan -- nen -- baum,
wie treu sind dei -- ne Blät -- ter!
}
>>
The tune is an old folk tune attested in the 16th century.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} It is also known as the tune of "{{Lang|de|Es lebe hoch der Zimmermannsgeselle|italic=no}}" ("Long Live the Carpenter’s Apprentice"{{cite web|url=https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/2493/o-tannenbaum|title=O Tannenbaum|publisher=Los Angeles Philharmonic|access-date=December 15, 2024}}) and of "{{Lang|de|Lauriger Horatius|italic=no}}" ("Time’s A-flying"{{cite web|url=https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/library/songmedival-latin-student-songs/|title=Mediæval Latin Student Songs|publisher=Bartleby.com|access-date=December 15, 2024}}).
Lyrics
{{col-begin-fixed}}
{{col-break}}
Wie treuA common variation replaces the word {{Lang|de|treu}} (faithful) with {{Lang|de|grün}} (green). sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit.Or {{Lang|de|Wie oft hat schon zur Winterzeit}}.
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Mut und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren!
{{col-break}}
Loose English translation[https://books.google.com/books?id=3ITInayzssQC&q=%22Your+branches+green+delight+us%22 by John Rutter]
How faithfully you blossom!
Through summer’s heat and winter’s chill
Your leaves are green and blooming still.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
How faithfully you blossom!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
With what delight I see you!
When winter days are dark and drear
You bring us hope for all the year.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
With what delight I see you!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
You bear a joyful message:
That faith and hope shall ever bloom
To bring us light in winter’s gloom.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
You bear a joyful message
{{col-break}}
Your branches green delight us!
They are green when summer days are bright,
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
Reminding me on Christmas Day
To think of you and then be gay.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
{{col-break}}
Yet another English versionThe Bay View Magazine (1913), [https://books.google.com/books?id=RbWgAAAAMAAJ&q=%22How+are+thy+leaves+so+verdant%22 p. 175]
How are thy leaves so verdant!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
For ev'ry year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
Not only green when summer's here
But in the coldest time of year.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How sturdy God hath made thee!
Thou bidd'st us all place faithfully
Our trust in God, unchangingly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How sturdy God hath made thee!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
{{col-end}}
;Notes
:
Other uses
The tune has also been used (as a contrafactum) to carry other texts on many occasions. Notable uses include:
- "The Red Flag", anthem of the British and Irish Labour Parties
- Florida – "Florida, My Florida", former state song{{cite web |url=http://heritage.acld.lib.fl.us/1351-1400/1374.html |title=Rev. C. V. Waugh |publisher=Alachua County Library District Heritage Collection |access-date=12 February 2008 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103846/http://heritage.acld.lib.fl.us/1351-1400/1374.html |url-status=dead }}
- Maryland – "Maryland, My Maryland", the former state song of Maryland
- Michigan – "Michigan, My Michigan", widely believed to be the official state song
- Iowa – "The Song of Iowa", official state song{{cite web|title=New Citizen Civic Handbook, page 44|url=http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/NewCitizens/EntireEnglish.pdf|year=2006|publisher=sos.state.ia.us|access-date=26 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325112939/http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/NewCitizens/EntireEnglish.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009|url-status=dead}}
- Labrador – "Ode to Labrador", regional anthem
- Dickinson College's alma mater, "Noble Dickinsonia," with words written by Horatio Collins King.
- The College of the Holy Cross's alma mater is sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum".[https://www.holycross.edu/departments/publicaffairs/hcm/summer00/GAA/gaa1-sum00.html Letter from the President of the General Alumni Association], Holy Cross Magazine
- When traveling by bus, schoolchildren in Sweden sing "En busschaufför" (Swedish for "a bus driver") or "Vår busschaufför" ("Our bus driver") to the melody.{{cite web|url=http://banken.musiknavet.se/res/Default/musikalisktidhafte.pdf|title=Musiknavet|page=22|publisher=Idébanken|date=2005|access-date=20 September 2014}}
- St. Bonaventure University's alma mater, "With Myrtle Wreath We'll Deck Thy Brow"[http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/archives/football/Cheers.htm Saint Bonavenure University website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527174747/http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/archives/football/Cheers.htm |date=2011-05-27}} . Accessed January 3, 2014.
- Nankai University's alma mater is sung to the melody.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nankai.edu.cn/166/list.htm |title=校歌歌谱 |publisher=Nankai University |language=zh |access-date=30 December 2024}}
- St. John's University (New York City)'s alma mater is sung to the melody.
{{Cite web|url=https://www.stjohns.edu/who-we-are/history-and-facts/alma-mater |title=The Alma Mater St. John's University |publisher=St. John's University|language=en |access-date=9 February 2025}}
- "Scout Vespers", used by the Boy Scouts of America, "Old St. John's", is sung to the melody.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/scoutvesper.html |title=Scout Vesper |website=ScoutSongs.com |access-date=2015-12-27}} Similarly, "Softly Falls" in which used by the Girl Scouts of the USA, is sung to the melody, as referenced in the song "On My Honor".{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/onmyhonor_gs.html|title=On My Honor – Girl Scout Version Lyrics}}
- In the 1988 movie Moon over Parador, the Parador National Anthem is sung to the melody.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMzaajZ-O7s | title=Moon over Parador (1988)- We Have a Hit | website=YouTube | date=13 November 2023 }}
- "Democrats, Good Democrats", an 1884 campaign song for Grover Cleveland.{{cite web|title=Democrats, Good Democrats (Grover Cleveland)|url=https://folkways.si.edu/oscar-brand/democrats-good-democrats-grover-cleveland/childrens-historical-song/music/track/smithsonian|website=Smithsonian}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{wikisourcelang|de|O Tannenbaum (Zarnack)}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051126190340/http://www2.hu-berlin.de/kulturtechnik/kabinette.php?show=odm&month=200412 "Eglite" – old recording of the song and article from The Hermann von Helmholtz Center for Cultural Technology] {{in lang|de}}
- [http://ingeb.org/images/OTannenb.GIF Notes "O Tannenbaum" (sheet music in GIF)]
- [http://ingeb.org/Lieder/OTannenb.html "O Tannenbaum" multilingual – MIDI and lyrics for "O Tannenbaum" and "O Christmas Tree"]
- [http://www.lieder-archiv.de/lieder/show_song.php?ix=200078 Sheet music in JPEG format, MIDI, and lyrics to "O Tannenbaum"]
- [http://www.thelayaways.com/songs/o-christmas-tree-the-layaways.html Lyrics and MP3 of "O Christmas Tree" by the Layaways]
- [http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=58193 Free-scores.com]
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