Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht

Subject: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 11:01 PM

Hello again, Wolfgang! ;-) (last time...tonight anyway)

The next carol is the Echo Carol, Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht. It's at the Volkslieder site here.

questions: 1) I don't understand why there are 9 German verses, 4 English verses, then more German verses. 2) Is this a bad midi? (incorrect harmony?) The midi at the Classical Midi Connection isn't much better. This is a very familiar carol, any other midis around? 3) Is this one relatively familiar in Germany?

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 11:06 PM

The Echo Carol is at the Classical Midi Connection on this page.

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Wolfgang
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 06:23 AM

Now I slowly realise, why you said 'again' in the first thread I found.

(1) From my knowledge of how Frank usually displays the songs, you have three versions of lyrics on one page, a 9 verses long German (left column), 4 verses of an English translation, and a five verses long German version.

(2) I'd just say it's a different tune in Frank's midi, but singable. He sometimes just 'borrows' the midis from other sites, but he can make them himself, and he usually is good at that.

(3) The 'echo carol' midi tune was the one I did know. From what I know from a small collection of families this song is known but usually not sung. Familiar, but not popular.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 09:22 AM

Hello Mary,

the nine stanzas at ingeb.org are the popular version; the other stanzas below the Engish translation seem to be from the original version by Friedrich von Spee.
The tune given at ingeb.org sounds older like the original (Cologne Hymn Book 1625), the Echo Choral is the tune as given in all collections of folk and popular songs from Erk-Böhme (Nr 1949) on, easier to sing, and as I must say, more joyful.
About the poet: he was a catholic priest living at the change from 16th to 17th century, famous for his fight against the witch hunt. Some of his songs have become popular, especially his "Nightingale".

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 20 Jan 02 - 11:09 PM

ALS ICH BEI MEINEN SCHAFEN WACHT WHILE BY MY SHEEP (ECHO CAROL) Traditional German
Als ich bei meinen Schafen wach, Ein Engel mir die Betschaft bracht. Des bin ich froh... bin ich froh. Froh, froh, froh...Froh, Froh, froh! Benedicamus Domino. Benedicamus Domino. Er sagt es soll beboren sein Zu Bethlehem ein Kindelein Des bin ich froh... bin ich froh. Froh, froh, froh...Froh, Froh, froh! Benedicamus Domino. Benedicamus Domino. Er sagt das Kind lag da im Stall Und sollt die Welt erlösen all. Des bin ich froh... bin ich froh. Froh, froh, froh...Froh, Froh, froh! Benedicamus Domino. Benedicamus Domino. Den Schatz muss ich bewahren wohl, So bleibt mein Herz der Freude voll. Des bin ich froh... bin ich froh. Froh, froh, froh...Froh, Froh, froh! Benedicamus Domino. Benedicamus Domino.		While by my sheep I watched at night, Glad tidings brought an angel bright. How great my joy...great my joy. Joy, joy, joy...Joy, joy, joy! Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. There shall be born, so he did say, In Bethlehem, a Child today. How great my joy...great my joy. Joy, joy, joy...Joy, joy, joy! Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. There shall He lie, in manger mean Who shall redeem the world from sin. How great my joy...great my joy. Joy, joy, joy...Joy, joy, joy! Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. Lord, evermore to me be nigh, Then shall my heart be filled with joy! How great my joy...great my joy. Joy, joy, joy...Joy, joy, joy! Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high. Praise to the Lord in Heav'n on high.

@Christmas
Source: The International Book of Christmas Carols, 1963.
MT
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See a temporary midi here. Single line midi sent to Joe.

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 07:12 AM

Two corrections to German lyrics:

line 2: most probably 'Botschaft'

verse 2, line 1: definitely 'geboren'

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Als ich bei meinen Schafen wacht
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 21 Jan 02 - 08:03 AM

Wolfgang is correct...I'll alert Joe.