Süßer die Glocken nie klingen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen"
Christmas carol
Text in Weihnachtsbüchlein für Schule und Haus (1866)
Text	by Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger
Language	German
Melody	"Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket"
Published	1860 (1860)

"Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" (which means "Sweeter the bells never sound" in English) is a very popular German Christmas carol. It was written by Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger. The song uses a traditional German folk melody. It was first printed in 1860. This carol is still loved today and appears in many songbooks. It is also featured on many Christmas music albums. The song makes people think of bells ringing. These bells are a symbol of peace and joy during the Christmas season.

History of the Song

The words for "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" were written by Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger. He was a theologian, which means he studied religion. He was also a pedagogue, a person who teaches. Kritzinger wrote the text while he was in charge of a school for women teachers in Droyßig.

He set his words to a well-known folk melody. This melody was from an evening song called "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket" (Look how the sun is setting there). This tune was known in different parts of Germany, like Thuringia and Silesia, by the mid-1800s.

The song "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" was first published in 1860. It appeared in a collection called Liederstrauß (Song bouquet). This book was put together by Bernhard Brähmig. He was a music teacher at the same school where Kritzinger worked. Since the late 1890s, this carol has been found in many song books. It helps create a lovely feeling of hope for peace and happiness.

Lyrics and Music

The lyrics of "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" talk about how beautiful bells sound at Christmas. They describe it as if angels are singing about peace and joy. The song also mentions the Christ Child hearing the bells and coming down to Earth to bless families. The final verse wishes for the bells' sound to travel far. This way, everyone can enjoy the blessed Christmas time.

Here are Kritzinger's original German lyrics and their English translation:

The music for the carol is written for four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). You can see the musical notes below: <score raw sound> \header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } \context { \Voice \remove "Dynamic_engraver" } } global = { \key f \major \numericTimeSignature \time 6/8 }

% Voices without appended "A" can be used for an alternative harmonization. soprano = \relative c { \global \autoBeamOff \set midiInstrument = "celesta" a8. a16 a8 a g a | c4 (bes8) g4. | g8. g16 g8 g [f] g | a4.~ a4 r8 | c8. c16 c8 c a f | f'4 (d8) d4. | c8. d16 c8 c bes g | f4.~ f4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { g8.g16 bes8 a a c | c8. bes16 a8 g4. | } c8. bes16 a8 a g f | f'4. (d) | c8. d16 c8 c bes g | f4.~ f4 r8 \bar "|." } sopranoA = \relative c { \global \autoBeamOff \set Voice.midiPanPosition = -0.5 \set midiInstrument = "celesta" a8. a16 a8 a g a | c4. g4. | g8. g16 g8 g [f] g | a4.~ a8 r8 r8 | c8. c16 c8 c a f | f'4. d4. | c8. d16 c8 c bes g | f4.~ f4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { g8. g16 g8 a a a | c8. bes16 g8 a4. | } c8. bes16 a8 a g f | f'4. (d) | c8. d16 c8 c bes g | f4.~ f4 r8 \bar "|." } % (Alternative) alto = \relative c' { \global \autoBeamOff \set midiInstrument = "vibraphone" f8.\pp f16 f8 f f f | g4. c,4. | e8. e16 e8 e [d] e | f4.~ f4 r8 | f8. f16 f8 f f f | f4. f4. | f8. f16 f8 e e e | c4.~ c4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { e8. e16 g8 f f a | e8. e16 f8 e4. | } f8. e16 f8 f e f | f4.~ f | f8. f16 f8 e e e | c4.~ c4 r8 \bar "|." } altoA = \relative c' { \global \set Voice.midiPanPosition = 0.5 \set midiInstrument = "vibraphone" r8\pp f f r f f | g4 g8 c, e g | r d d r e e | f4 f8 f c f | r a a r c, c | d d f g4 g8 | g4 g8 e4 e8 | f4 c8 c4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { e8. e16 e8 f f f | g4 c,8 f4. | } a4 f8 c4 c8 | f4 f8 g4 g8 | g4 e8 e4 e8 | f4.~ f4 r8 \bar "|." } % (Alternative) tenor = \relative c' { \global \autoBeamOff \set midiInstrument = "clav" c8.\pp c16 c8 c bes c | g4. g4. | c8. c16 c8 c4 c8 | c4.~ c4 r8 | a8. a16 a8 a c a | d4 (bes8) bes4. | a8. bes16 a8 g c bes | a4.~ a4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { c8. c16 c8 c a f | g8. g16 f8 c'4. | } c8. c16 c8 c bes a | d4. (bes) | a8. bes16 a8 g c bes | a4.~ a4 r8 \bar "|." } tenorA = \relative c { \global \set Voice.midiPanPosition = -1 \set midiInstrument = "clav" f8\pppp a c c a f | g e c' c g e | g bes d c g bes | a f c' c bes a | f4 c'8 f,4 f8 | f4 a8 bes4 bes8 | c g c c e, g | a4 f8 f a bes | \repeat volta 2 { c4 c8 c4 a8 | bes g bes a f a | } f4 f8 a4 a8 | bes4 bes8 bes4 bes8 | c4 c8 bes4 bes8 | a4.~ a4 r8 \bar "|." } % (Alternative) bass = \relative c { \global \autoBeamOff \set midiInstrument = "orchestral harp" f8.\pp f16 f8 f f f | e4. e | c8. c16 c8 c4 c8 | f4.~ f4 r8 | f8. f16 f8 f f f | bes,4. bes | c8. c16 c8 c c c | f4.~ f4 r8 | \repeat volta 2 { c8. c16 c8 c c c | c8. c16 c8 c4. | } a'8. g16 f8 f f f | bes,4.~ bes | c8. c16 c8 c c c | f4.~ f4 r8 \bar "|." } bassA = \relative c { \global \set Voice.midiPanPosition = 1 \set midiInstrument = "orchestral harp" f4\pp r8 f4 r8 | e4 c8 e d c | g'4 r8 c4 r8 | f,4 g8 a g f | f4 r8 a,4 a8 | bes4 d8 g c, d | d c d g c, e | f a, c f4. | \repeat volta 2 { c4 r8 f4 r8 | c d e f4 r8 | } f4 r8 es4 r8 | d4 bes8 g bes d | e4 r8 c4 r8 | f4.~ f4 r8 \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { Sü -- ßer die Glo -- cken nie klin -- gen, Als zu der Weih -- nachts -- zeit, Ist, als ob En -- ge -- lein sin -- gen Wie -- der von Frie -- den und Freud', Wie sie ge -- sun -- gen in se -- li -- ger Nacht, Glo -- cken mit hei -- li -- gem Klang, Klingt doch die Er -- de ent -- lang! }

\score { \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \sopranoA } \addlyrics { \verse } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \altoA } >> \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenorA } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bassA } >> >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \sopranoA \\ \altoA \\ \tenorA \\ \bassA >> } \midi { \tempo 4.=56 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } } </score>

Popular Recordings

Many famous singers have recorded "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen." It is often part of Christmas music collections. Some of these popular artists include:

• Peter Alexander
• Roy Black
• Helene Fischer
• Heintje
• Vicky Leandros
• Ivan Rebroff
• Die Flippers
• Nana Mouskouri
• Roger Whittaker

See also

In Spanish: Süßer die Glocken nie klingen para niños