Music and Art
- Dance Like a Chicken … Or a Duck? – Brief History of the Chicken Dance
Considering the chicken dance is staple of Oktoberfest celebrations in the US you would think it’s a German tradition. But the song is actually Swiss, and called “Ententanz.” - German May Song: Der Mai ist gekommen
Sing this German May Song to welcome May: Der Mai ist gekommen. Written by Geibel in 1841, set to music by Lyra in 1842 - Paul Gerhardt: Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud’
“Geh’ aus, mein Herz und suche Freud'” (Go forth, my heart and seek delight) is a known and popular summer song. It was written by pastor and poet Paul Gerhardt in 1653. Take a listen. - A Life of Painting: Marie Ellenrieder
The first woman to be admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts of Munich, Marie Ellenrieder was a court painter and created religious art still admired today. - Soul, Forget Them Not – Requiem by Hebbel and Reger
Famous composer and musician Max Reger set Friedrich Hebbel’s poem “Requiem” (Seele, vergiss sie nicht) to music. Read more about Hebbel and Reger and listen to the beautiful requiem. - Ludwig Emil Grimm: An Artist in His Own Right
Maybe you know him as the little brother of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, but Ludwig Emil Grimm was an artist in his own right: a painter, etcher, and engraver. Take a look at his life and artwork. - Americans and Brits who sang in German
A month ago, I wrote about 10 American and British artists who recorded their songs also in German. Here is now a playlist on youtube featuring even more singers with their German language songs. - 10 English-Speaking Artists Who Sang in German
Did you know that The Beatles recorded two of their songs in German? And Elvis sang a German folk song partially in Swabian dialect? Johnny Cash, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, they all have recorded songs in German. In the 1960s it was not unheard of that artists released some of their songs in German for the German market.
