"Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" (Sweeter the bells never sound) is a popular German Christmas carol with text by Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger to a traditional Volkslied melody, first printed in 1860. It has remained popular and is part of many song books and Christmas recordings, evoking the sound of bells as a symbol of peace and joy.
History
The theologian and pedagogue Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger wrote the text when he was the director of a seminary for women teachers in Droyßig, matching a well-known Volkslied melody, of the evening song[1] "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket" (Look how the sun is setting there)", which was documented in Thuringia from 1841 and in Silesia from 1847.[2][3] It was first printed in 1860 in the collection Liederstrauß (Song bouquet) by Bernhard Brähmig, who was a music teacher at the teachers' school.[4]
Some historians assume that "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket" was written before 1826.[5] Karl Kummerel (1822–1857) paraphrased the text in 1847, and is therefore sometimes credited as the author.[2][6][7] The popular art song "Dort sinket die Sonne im Westen" is regarded as a source for "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket",[8][9] with a text by Ernst Heinrich Schwabe (1787–1818), a teacher from Zittau,[10] to which August Harder published a melody 1808, different from "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket".[2][11] The melody of "Seht, wie die Sonne dort sinket" was popular in several variants, including "Das Liebchen im Grabe".[12][13] Some of the earlier songs mention bells, which may have inspired Kritzinger.
From the late 1890s,[14] the song has appeared frequently in song books.[15][3][16] The song establishes a pleasant mood in hope for peace and joy.[8][3][1]
Süßer die Glocken nie klingen,
Als zu der Weihnachtszeit,
Ist, als ob Engelein singen
Wieder von Frieden und Freud',
𝄆 Wie sie gesungen in seliger Nacht! 𝄇
Glocken mit heiligem Klang,
Klingt doch die Erde entlang!
O wenn die Glocken erklingen,
Schnell sie das Christkindlein hört:
Thut sich vom Himmel dann schwingen,
Eilet hernieder zur Erd'.
𝄆 Segnet den Vater, die Mutter, das Kind; 𝄇
Glocken mit heiligem Klang,
Klingt doch die Erde entlang!
Klinget mit lieblichem Schalle
Ueber die Meere noch weit,
Daß sich erfreuen doch Alle
Seliger Weihnachtszeit,
𝄆 Alle aufjauchzen mit einem Gesang! 𝄇
Glocken mit heiligem Klang,
Klingt doch die Erde entlang![2][15]
Sweeter the bells never sound
Than at Christmas time
It's as if angels are singing
Again of peace and joy
𝄆 As they sang on the blessed night 𝄇
Bells with a holy sound
The earth rings in harmony!
Oh, when the bells ring out
Quickly the Christ Child hears them
Then swings down from heaven
Hurries down to earth
𝄆 Blesses the father, the mother, the child 𝄇
Bells with a holy sound
The earth rings in harmony!
Ring with lovely sounds
Very far over the seas
So that all may rejoice
In the blessed Christmas time
𝄆 All shout out in glorious song 𝄇
Bells with a holy sound
The earth rings in harmony!
^Karl Goedeke, Edmund Goetze: Grundrisz zur Geschichte der deutschen Dichtung aus den Quellen. Siebentes Buch: Zeit des Weltkrieges (1790–1815): Phantastische Dichtung. Abteilung II. 2nd edition, Ehlermann, Dresden 1900, p. 307 .
^Bernd Pachnicke (ed.): Deutsche Volkslieder. Singstimme und Klavier. Edition Peters, Leipzig 1976, DNB-IDN1006936580, p. 337.
^Julius Hofmann (ed.): Deutsches Liederbuch: Sammlung von Chorälen und Liedern für Schule und Haus. Sonntags-Schule der Zions-Gemeinde, Baltimore, Md. 1895, p. 126 (online bei hymnary.org); Ludwig Tiesmeyer, Paul Zauleck (Hrsg.), Helias Putsch (musikalisch bearb.): Das Buch der Weihnachtslieder. 2., völlig neu bearbeitete Auflage. Heinsius, Bremen 1896, p. 106 f. (Wikisource).
Franz Xaver Erni, Heinz Alexander Erni: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. Die schönsten Weihnachtslieder. Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 2002, ISBN3-451-27367-5, pp. 120, 190.
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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!
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