The hallmark of the Comedian Harmonists was its members' ability to blend their voices together so that the individual singers could appear and disappear back into the vocal texture and were noted for using their voices to imitate musical instruments. Their repertoire was wide, ranging from the folk and classical songs arranged by Frommermann to the more appealing and witty popular songs of the day by writers such as Peter Igelhoff, Werner Heymann and Paul Abraham.
In 1927, actor Harry Frommermann was inspired by The Revelers, a United States jazz-influenced popular vocal group, to create a German group of the same format. After some initial failures, the Harmonists soon found success, becoming popular throughout Europe, touring the United States, and appearing in 21 movies.
The group's success continued into the early 1930s, but eventually ran into trouble with the Nazi regime: three of the group members - Frommermann, Collin, and Cycowski - were either Jewish or of Jewish descent, and Bootz had married a Jewish woman. The Nazis progressively made the group's professional life more difficult, initially banning pieces by Jewish composers, and finally prohibiting them from performing in public. The group's last concert was in Munich on March 25, 1934.
Ungarischer Tanz Nr. 5
Comedian Harmonists Lyrics
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Burschen und Mädel heimwärts zieh'n, wo im Dorf die Linden blüh'n.
He, Zigeuner, spiel ein Lied für mich. Komm, mein Mädel, dreh im Czardas dich!
Bieg und wieg dich geschmeidig in meinem Arm. Spiel, Zigeuner, du machst mir warm.
He, Zigeuner, spiel ein Lied für mich. Komm, mein Mädel, dreh im Czardas Dich!.
Lieg und wieg' Dich geschmeidig in meinem Arm. Spiel, Zigeuner, du machst mir warm.
Komm, Julischka, dreh dich jetzt im Kreise. Feuriger wird die Zigeunerweise.
Hm hm, hm hm- Magst du mich wohl leiden? Hm hm, hm hm- Du bist nicht bescheiden.
Hm hm, hm hm- Darf ich dich dann küssen? Hm hm, hm hm- Das mußt du selber wissen.
Jetzt, Zigeuner, spiel wie toll. Spiel, daß mein Herz höher schlagen soll.
Denke, die Liebste säße bei dir, und d ein Lied, es gelte nur ihr.
Spiel, Zigeuner, was dein Herz dir singt. Spiel, Zigeuner, bis die Saite springt,
Spiel von Sehnsucht und Liebe, von Lust und Schmerz. Spiel, Zigeuner, wie dir's ums Herz.
Spiel, Zigeuner, was dein Herz dir singt. Spiel, Zigeuner, bis die Saite springt,
Spiel von Sehnsucht und Liebe, von Lust und Schmerz. Spiel, Zigeuner, wie dir's ums Herz.
The lyrics to Comedian Harmonists' "Ungarischer Tanz Nr. 5" ("Hungarian Dance No. 5") evoke an image of a sun-drenched plain where the fields are heavy with ripe corn and young people are making their way back to the village, where the linden trees are in bloom. The singer appears to be addressing a Romani musician, asking him to play a tune ("He, Zigeuner, spiel ein Lied für mich") and inviting his partner to dance ("Komm, mein Mädel, dreh im Czardas dich"). The singer's desire for physical intimacy is also present, as he urges his partner to "lieg und wieg' dich geschmeidig in meinem Arm" ("lie down and sway smoothly in my arms") and asks if she likes him and if he can kiss her.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonn'beglänzt die Pusta liegt. Schwer das Korn sich auf den Feldern wiegt.
The sun shines over the vast plain. The heavy grain sways in the fields.
Burschen und Mädel heimwärts zieh'n, wo im Dorf die Linden blüh'n.
Boys and girls return home where the linden trees bloom in the village.
He, Zigeuner, spiel ein Lied für mich. Komm, mein Mädel, dreh im Czardas dich!
Hey, Gypsy, play a song for me. Come, my girl, dance the Csardas with me!
Bieg und wieg dich geschmeidig in meinem Arm. Spiel, Zigeuner, du machst mir warm.
Bend and sway gracefully in my arms. Play, Gypsy, you make me feel warm.
Komm, Julischka, dreh dich jetzt im Kreise. Feuriger wird die Zigeunerweise.
Come, Julischka, spin around in a circle now. The Gypsy melody becomes more fiery.
Hörst du nicht, wie uns're Herzen schlagen. Komm, mein Schatz, ich muß dich etwas fragen:
Can't you hear our hearts beating? Come, my love, I have to ask you something:
Hm hm, hm hm- Magst du mich wohl leiden? Hm hm, hm hm- Du bist nicht bescheiden.
Hm hm, hm hm- Do you like me? Hm hm, hm hm- You're not humble.
Hm hm, hm hm- Darf ich dich dann küssen? Hm hm, hm hm- Das mußt du selber wissen.
Hm hm, hm hm- Can I kiss you then? Hm hm, hm hm- You must decide for yourself.
Jetzt, Zigeuner, spiel wie toll. Spiel, daß mein Herz höher schlagen soll.
Now, Gypsy, play crazily. Play so that my heart beats faster.
Denke, die Liebste säße bei dir, und d ein Lied, es gelte nur ihr.
Imagine that your beloved is sitting with you, and play a song that is only for her.
Spiel, Zigeuner, was dein Herz dir singt. Spiel, Zigeuner, bis die Saite springt,
Play, Gypsy, what your heart sings to you. Play, Gypsy, until the string breaks,
Spiel von Sehnsucht und Liebe, von Lust und Schmerz. Spiel, Zigeuner, wie dir's ums Herz.
Play of longing and love, of pleasure and pain. Play, Gypsy, as your heart desires.
Spiel, Zigeuner, was dein Herz dir singt. Spiel, Zigeuner, bis die Saite springt,
Play, Gypsy, what your heart sings to you. Play, Gypsy, until the string breaks,
Spiel von Sehnsucht und Liebe, von Lust und Schmerz. Spiel, Zigeuner, wie dir's ums Herz.
Play of longing and love, of pleasure and pain. Play, Gypsy, as your heart desires.
Contributed by Abigail F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Caocao8888
What is so amazing to me is how extremely polished and musical this group was! The rubato is perfectly done, as are the accelerandi, the phrasing, the intonation, and on and on. If the young musicians of today familiarized themselves with quality performances of the past like this, they might start practicing and working a lot harder. Today, it is the technicians in the studio who deserve any credit. Modern performers are only fair to good.
byline7844
@Caocao8888 - I agree, and suggest to you Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester from Berlin, whose performances show remarkable attention to every detail, musical and otherwise. (As a matter of fact, it was due to seeing a Carnegie Hall perfornance of the Palast Orchester that I first found the Comedian Harmonists. Now I find myself an admirer of both. You may also find it interesting that the Orchester still performs many of the Comedian Harmonists songs.
Wolfgang Kunze
einfach klasse - auch heute noch ! tolle Stimmen - da kann person nur staunen - und andere dagegen verstummen ! auch DSDS Persoen - diese CH sinnd unerreichbar
MamorEngel
Wie cool :D Das hab ich mal auf Klavier gespielt :D
David Bethke
My German isn't what is used to be so I can't translate what they'e saying as they go :) Did Liszt actually have lyrics for these originally? If not, who wrote the lyrics?
Herman Kole
zeer mooi
Christian Brandt
Ari Leschnikoff forever!!!
elisabeth euler
wer kommt heutzutage an solche stimmen heran niemand !!!!!
GermanOperaSinger
@Caocao8888 'Fair to good' would be an overstatement when describing modern musicians.
Joe Dominguez
coooooooooooooooooool