Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)

Subject: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Gulliver
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 06:05 PM

I'm looking for some information on this German song, which sounds like "Tamalan", probably from the 1920s, and from Brecht, Tucholski or similar.
I think it starts (can provide more lyrics):
Ich wuerde gern ein Bisschen Tamalan, Tamalan waere gut,
Mir ist Tamalan, Tamalan zumute.

Thanks, Don

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Gulliver
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 06:11 PM

OK, I found it already on Google: Tamerlan

Mir ist heut' so nach Tamerlan zu Mut
ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär gut

(some days I feel like that too...)

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 03:01 PM

It's a cabaret song by Kurt Tucholsky. If you'd like a recording I could send you one.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Gulliver
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 11:54 PM

Thanks, Susanne, but I found a video by Eva Meier singing it on YouTube. It's a recording from NDR in 1992, and I remember seeing her singing it on that TV show when I was living in Hannover--the first time I heard the song.   

Things like that make me love YouTube.

BTW, hope to be heading to the Yiddish/Klezmer festival in Cork shortly, will probably sing some Yiddish or German songs there.

Don

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 04:37 AM

Gulliver wrote:
"[...] and from Brecht, Tucholski or similar."

ARRGGGHHHH!!! Like Tucholsky a lot, not that keen on Brecht, although I like some of his work.

I have the music in a book of Tucholsky songs. It may still be in print. The music is by Rudolf Nelson. I have a recording of it on a CD of historical recordings of Tucholsky songs --- but only as an instrumental by a "Kunstpfeiffer", i.e., an "artistic whistler". I'd quite like to be a "Kunstpfeiffer", but I'm not sure my neighbours would put up with the practicing. The CD may also still be available.

I'm trying to think of the name of the cabaret performer (and owner !) for whom it was written, but it escapes my mind at the moment. I can look it up when I get home.

There's also a book of music by Friedrich Hollaender for Max Reinhardt's cabaret "Schall und Rauch" ("Noise and Smoke", which means more-or-less the same as "Sound and Fury", i.e., "signifying nothing"), some of which have lyrics by Tucholsky. I'm not sure whether he used his own name for any; Theobald Tiger was one of his several pseudonyms. I highly recommend this book and it may well still be available. I don't know whether Hollaender ("Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuss" == "Falling in Love Again", "See What the Boys in the Backroom Will Have" and many film scores) did the piano arrangements, but some are fairly difficult.

If you or anyone else likes this genre (and not wanting to teach any grandmothers to suck eggs), I'd also like to recommend Erich Kaestner, Claire Waldoff and Otto Reutter. I play and sing a lot of this repertoire, so I'd be glad to Bore for England about it, if required.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamalan (sp?), German song, 1920s
From: Gulliver
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 07:48 PM

I used to be interested in this kind of music, but it's hard to find an audience for satirical German-language Weimar Republic songs in Ireland, especially in my local where I play in a session. Don

Subject: ADD: Tamerlan (Kurt Tucholsky)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 08:28 PM

You'll find the Eva Meier recording here (click) at YouTube.
I found the lyrics at jasmin-tabatabai.com, but it leaves out part of the ending of what Meier sings. It's a very clever song, and Meier does a very clever recording of it. There's also brief performance of "Der deutsche Mann" at the end - another clever song. Can't say I like her performance of Seeräber Jenny or Lied der Jenny.

TAMERLAN
Berliner Kabarett-Song (1922)
Text: "Theobald Tiger" (Kurt Tucholsky)
Original-Musik: Rudolf Nelson

Tamerlan war Herzog der Kirgisen
und jeder Mensch in Asien wusste, wo er war.

Tamerlan ritt über grüne Wiesen,
und wo der Junge einmal hintrat, wuchs kein Gras.

Und alle Frauen lauschten angstvoll seinem Schritt.
und in die Städte - fielen die Mädchen alle mit.

Er war auch stets zu einem wilden Kampf bereit
das war in Asien - eine schöne Zeit.

Mir ist heut so nach Tamerlan zu Mut,
ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär gut.

Es wäre ja, geniert mich das,
geniert mich das, gelacht.

Ich glaube, es passiert noch was,
passiert noch was, heut Nacht.

Mir ist heut so nach Tamerlan zu Mut,
ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär gut.

Und sehe ich ins Publikum
da liegt heut so ein Fluidum ...
ach Mensch, gehn' se' weg
es hat ja kein Zweck
mit dem Tamerlan.

Tamerlan mein liebstes Kind, ja Kuchen.
So einen Tamerlan, den möchte ich wohl auch,
Tamerlan, da kannst du lange suchen,
wer mit Devisen handelt, der hat einen Bauch.

Du suchst dir hier vergeblich einen Tamerlan,
nun guck mal runter,
sieh dir mal an.


I think it has nothing in common but a protagonist with Edgar Allan Poe's Tamerlane (click), but you can follow the link and see what you think. The text of Poe's poem is at eapoe.org.
-Joe-

Subject: ADD: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 09:00 PM

I found a more satisfying transcription here:
German Music Database. I'm sure some of our German Mudcatters will get a laug out of my translation of some of the idioms in the text.

MIR IST HEUT SO NACH TAMERLAN! (Theobald Tiger, 1922 - für Fritzi Massari) Tamerlan war Herzog der Kirgisen, und jeder Mensch in Asien wußte wohl das. Tamerlan ritt über grüne Wiesen, und wo der Junge einmal hintrat wuchs kein Gras. Und alle Frauen lauschten angstvoll seinem Schritt, und fielen die Städte, fielen die Mädchen alle mit. Er war auch stets zu einem wilden Kampf bereit, das war in Asien eine schöne Zeit! Mir ist heut so nach Tamerlan zu Mut! Ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär` gut. Es wäre ja, geniert mich das, geniert mich das, gelacht. Ich glaube, es passiert noch was, passiert noch was heut Nacht. Mir ist heut so nach Tamerlan zu Mut, ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär` gut. Und sehe ich ins Publikum, da liegt heut so ein Fluidum. Ach Mensch, gehen Sie weg, es hat ja nur Zweck mit dem Tamerlan. Tamerlan, mein liebes Kind, ja Kuchen! So einen Tamerlan, den möcht` ich wohl auch. Tamerlan, da kannst du lange suchen, wer mit Devisen handelt, der hat einen Bauch. Und wenn `ne kleine Frau `ne große Glatze küßt. dann weiß sie, daß das alles für die Katze ist. Du suchst dir hier vergeblich einen Tamerlan, nu guck mal runter, sieh dir mal an! Hier ist doch gar kein Tamerlan zu sehn, ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan wär` schön. Seh` ich mir hier die Männer an, eih, weihl Da ist ja gar kein Tamerlan dabei! Mir ist heut so nach Tamerlan zu Mut ein kleines bißchen Tamerlan, ja Tamerlan wär` gut. Die sind ja nichts für dich und mich, die haben alle einen Stich! Ach weine nicht sehr, den gibt`s ja nicht mehr, solchen Tamerlan

It’s so much like Tamerlane for me today (Theobald Tiger AKA Kurt Tucholsky) Tamerlane was duke of the Kyrgyz And every person in Asia knew that. Tamerlane rode ofver green meadows, And where the youth had once ridden, no grass grew And all the women listened anxiously for his step And when the cities fell, the girls fell with them He was always ready for a wild battle That was a wonderful time in Asia!! I am so much like Tamerlane in spirit today A little bit of Tamerlane would be good It would be, yes, but it embarrasses me, It embarrasses me..laughingly. I believe that something will happen Something will happem….tonight. I am so much like Tamerlane in spirit today A little bit of Tamerlane would be good And I look out into the audience There is today such an atmosphere (aura) Oh, friend, go away My only goal Is with Tamerlane Tamerlane, my dear child, what a hope! Such a Tamerlane, that would I also like to have. Tamerlane, you can look for a long time. He who works with devices, has a belly. And when a little woman kisses a big bald spot, Then she knows, that everything is useless (for the cat). You are seeking in vain for Tamerlane here Look below now, look there! There is no Tamerlane to see here But a little bit of Tamerlane would be nice. I look at the men here, oh, dread! There is no Tamerlane nearby! I am so much like Tamerlane in spirit today A little bit of Tamerlane would be good There is nothing for you and me They all have a pain Oh, don’t cry too much, for there is No more Such a Tamerlane

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Gulliver
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 07:50 PM

There are some interesting comments about the song in the Google book on Berlin cabaret here (you can carry out a search within the book for Tamerlane on the site).

Eva Meier sang better versions of Seeräber Jenny and Lied der Jenny on that same show on NDR television in 1992. I have recordings somewhere. She's still performing. If the economy picks up and I manage to sell my house for a good price I'll think about inviting her over to Dublin for a show (not in my local pub, though).

Don

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 08:17 PM

Anybody know of a good printed or online source of Berlin caberet lyrics?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 04:36 PM

Joe, I could send you photocopies of several CD booklets, plus one of the Tucholsky book (though it might damage the book which - unlike the CDs Piers Plowman mentions - is no longer available). Have a look at the following sites:

Contraer Musik

Duophon / Edition Berliner Musenkinder

Bear Family Records

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Gulliver
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 11:07 PM

There's a good Wikipedia site on Tucholsky here, and a better one in German here.

Don

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:05 AM

"From: Joe Offer - PM
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 08:17 PM

Anybody know of a good printed or online source of Berlin caberet lyrics?
-Joe-"

What exactly are you looking for? One does find things around, either in print or available used. Why Berlin specifically? There was also cabaret in Munich and I suppose other places as well. Are you only interested in the political cabaret of the Weimar Republic or are you interested in earlier cabaret? (It starts in Germany around 1900, 1910 or so.)

Some authors of cabaret songs or poems, such as Joachim Ringelnatz, Tucholsky and Erich Kaestner, are still in print. Generally speaking, it's harder to get hold of the music than the texts.

Currently, my local music store has a volume of songs by Willi Kollo. It used to have a companion volume with songs by his father, Walter, but someone bought it. I'm not sure whether it's still in print. (I prefer Walter Kollo.) There always seems to be something around in this genre, but things go in and out of print.

If you're looking for something specific, I could have a look around.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 11:17 AM

Something you might be interested in is Frank Wedekind's songs. He was the first "star" of German cabaret, but he abandoned it as soon as he could get his plays performed. There was a book of them (with music) but it wasn't in print when I tried to buy it some years ago. I don't actually like them that much because they are more obscene than bawdy, but of great historical interest, of course.

Since he's an important dramatist, I think the texts might be published somewhere; in a "Complete Works", if nowhere else.

Early cabaret in Germany was more morbid (in a way that was meant to be amusing) rather than political. I find a lot of it not particularly interesting.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 10:23 PM

There's a recording by Ernst Busch of Wedekind songs still available. They're great if you like black humour. 'I butchered my aunt' certainly isn't for the faint-hearted!

Subject: interpretation by jasmin tabatabai
From: GUEST,Simone Z.
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 09:41 AM

Jasmin Tabatabai, german actrice, sung a version of Tamerlan in the film Gripsholm (biography about Tucholsky) from the year 2000.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tamerlan (German song, 1920s)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:21 PM

I'm looking forward to receiving my 12-CD collection on German Cabaret, complete with booklets, from Bear Family Records. Don't know if Tamerlan is on it but it's bound to have a number of old favourites!