This edition was prepared by Ulrich Alpers — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Der Reif und auch der kalte Schnee
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Der Reif und auch der kalte Schnee by Melchior Franck — Lyrics
Der Reif und auch der kalte Schnee,
der tut uns armen Reitern weh,
was woll'n wir noch beginnen?
Wenn wir die Straß nicht treten mög'n,
was hab'n wir dann zu gewinnen?
So trieb'n wir aus die Lämm'r und Schaf,
so folgen uns die Mägdlein nach,
mein Roß tut mich nicht zwingen.
Reit'n wir den grün' Wald auf und ab,
hör'n wir die Waldvöglein singen.
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About Der Reif und auch der kalte Schnee
Melchior Franck's Der Reif und auch der kalte Schnee is a delightful example of German secular part-music from the Renaissance. Scored for SATB voices, it captures the spirit of the madrigal with its vivid imagery and engaging melody. The text paints a picture of winter's hardship for riders, contrasting it with the joyful freedom of riding through the woods, accompanied by birdsong and the company of maidens. It explores themes of love and longing, with a maiden expressing her affection for riders, perhaps inspired by her own beloved. The song concludes with a hopeful anticipation of spring and summer after enduring the harshness of winter, a sentiment that resonates with the changing seasons.
