Biting ballads and snappy songs
A selection volume makes twenty titles by Hanns Eisler accessible again, another brings well-known Bernstein songs with easy piano accompaniment.
Eisler's political songs
Even before the tributes to Verdi and Wagner, the publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel took the opportunity to publish a fine volume of 20 songs to mark the 50th anniversary of Hanns Eisler's death (September 6, 2012). Until now, it has not been so easy to get hold of such sheet music, whereas recordings, even historical first recordings with the singer Ernst Busch, have been available for some time. In addition to well-known songs that have been out of print for a long time (such as the eponymous Stempellied), the booklet contains improved editions (e.g. the Dome song from Brecht's The round heads and the pointed heads) and seven first editions.
With his political songs about unemployment, hunger and war, Eisler struck a chord in the 1920s and 1930s; he brilliantly translated the texts of Brecht, Tucholsky and others into inspiring music. No wonder he had to emigrate from Germany as a communist Jew. But it is also no wonder that he returned to (East) Germany soon after the end of the war, despite great success in the American film business.
Mark Brandenburg, you sandy one,
but havelwellenbrandige
potato-rich meadows!
You green-wooded woman
and always belonging to me
a nature that's a bit of a downer!
(Text by Robert Gilbert on Greetings to the Mark Brandenburgcomposed in exile and also included in this collection).
Songs and ballads is a thoroughly enjoyable edition. A detailed foreword in German and English by the editors Peter Deeg and Oliver Dahin provides information on the life and work of the composer, and the notes on each song are not limited to source references, but are themselves little stories about lyricists, the genesis of the songs, performers, performance venues etc., such as the delicious description of When the hedgehogs in the evening hour.
Hanns Eisler, Keenen Sechser in der Tasche, songs and ballads for voice and piano, edited by Oliver Dahin, Peter Deeg, DV 9073, € 20.00, Breitkopf und Härtel, Wiesbaden 2012
Bernstein's catchy tunes
The volume Bernstein Broadway Songs combines twelve titles by Leonard Bernstein from West Side Story, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Candide and Wonderful Town. The five songs from the West Side Story are arranged by Carol Klose, the others by Rachel Chapin, as easy piano arrangements. These provide a light bass on the left, the singing voice in the right hand system or light melodic additions in the interludes. Above everything are the harmonic designations in letters, not immediately decipherable for classically trained eyes.
This is a reprint of the 1957 edition, clearly legible with large sheet music. It is nice that these highly entertaining and voice-friendly compositions from Bernstein's pen - such as the catchy tunes America or Mary -can buy again. Unfortunately, apart from a list of titles, the edition provides no information, no preface and no details about the individual musicals, as can be found in the Schirmer and older Hal Leonard editions.
Leonard Bernstein, Broadway Songs, Easy Piano, edited by Carol Klose, BHL 24648, € 14.99, Boosey & Hawkes/Hal Leonard, New York 2011
