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Origins: O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden

10 Mar 06 - 09:00 AM (#1689956)
Subject: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: GUEST,Jack Campin

I was reading a book on Sufism and music yesterday and one of the articles (by Ammemarie Schimmel?) mentioned offhand that the Luther chorale used in Bach's St Matthew Passion was originally a love song, beginning "Mein Kopf is so verwirret, das macht ein Maedchen zart".

Anybody know the original? Google doesn't.


10 Mar 06 - 10:17 AM (#1690018)
Subject: RE: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: Wolfgang

The tune is some fifty years older than these lyrics* so it was probably written originally to other lyrics. I can have a look in the middle of next week, but most likely Wilfried or Susanne will have found out until then and posted the response.

* That's a difference between English and German (folk) songs that always amazes me. The English ones are just 'trad.' if they are more than 100 years old, the German ones come with the information (as in the above case) 'text: Paul Gerhardt, 1656, tune: Hans Leo Hasler, 1601'

Wolfgang


10 Mar 06 - 10:57 AM (#1690044)
Subject: RE: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: Wolfgang

The original is:

Mein Gemüt ist mir verwirret
von einer Jungfrau zart.
Bin ganz und gar verwirret,
mein Herz das kränkt sich hart.
Hab Tag und Nacht kein Ruh,
führ allzeit große Klag,
tu stets seufzen und weinen,
in Trauren schier verzag

from the Lochamer Liederbuch (1460), this time actually author unknown

Wolfgang


10 Mar 06 - 11:01 AM (#1690047)
Subject: RE: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: Wolfgang

O.K., I've got it now in a more complete version (so many minor differences in spelling make googling a challenge)

Mein Gemüt ist mir verwirret

Wolfgang (who enjoys challenges like this one)


10 Mar 06 - 11:04 AM (#1690049)
Subject: RE: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: GUEST,leeneia

My goodness, 1460! Thanks, Wolfgang.


10 Mar 06 - 12:35 PM (#1690102)
Subject: RE: original of O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: Joe Offer

In English, the song is known as "O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded" or "O Sacred Head, Surrounded." My St. Gregory Hymnal says the lyrics were by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), and melody by H.L. Hassler (1600). The hymnal uses Bach's adaptation of the tune. Presumably, it was written first in Latin, but I haven't heard anything by German and English versions attached to this tune.
Tom Glazer used this tune for "Because All Men Are Brothers," recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary on the See What Tomorrow Brings album.
-Joe-


24 Mar 06 - 11:44 AM (#1701833)
Subject: RE: Origins: O Haupt mit Blut und Wunden
From: Jim Dixon

It's in the DT as O SACRED HEAD NOW WOUNDED, which is how I remember it from my childhood churchgoing days. (The Presbyterian Hymnal)

Paul Simon also used the tune for AMERICAN TUNE on "There Goes Rhymin' Simon," 1973. The words are in this thread: What's your favourite Paul Simon song?.