Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) (German)

 
Classical Work: O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) (German)
  • Date: ca. 1820
  • Composer: Christmas Traditional

Review

Among traditional German Christmas carols, O Tannenbaum is one of the best known and most loved. It is generally accepted in many quarters that the tune dates from the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries and that O Tannenbaum is contemporary with the beginnings of the Christmas tree celebration itself as it evolved in Alsace around the end of the medieval period. While there is a remote chance that the melody to O Tannenbaum may be that old, it is not documented in any source prior to 1799. That year, it appears in a collection of 500-odd songs published by Enlightenment-age philosopher Rudolph Zacharias Becker, entitled Melodien zum Mildheimischen Liederbuche. This was a collection of folk song adaptations intended as a musical handbook for the people who lived in Becker's imaginary, Utopian dream-village of Mildheim. Intriguingly, the tune to O Tannenbaum appears here under the title "Es lebe hoch der kluge Mann" and is credited to prominent German opera composer Johann Gottlieb Naumann. In 1820, Potsdam schoolmaster August Zarnack published Weisenbuch zu den Volksliedern für Volkschulen, a collection of songs for children. This contained both the opening verse of O Tannenbaum and the melody as it is sung today. Zarnack had absorbed the tune from the singing of students. In 1824, another schoolmaster from Leipzig, Ernst Anschütz, added yet more verses. The version of O Tannenbaum in use today consists of Zarnack's first verse with two of Anschütz' verses forming the second and third stanzas. Both authors wrote additional verses to O Tannenbaum, which are not in standard use. That the popularity of O Tannenbaum spread quickly to the shores of the United States is certain, though no one knows just when or how this happened. Perhaps it arrived on American soil along with German immigrants in the early to mid-nineteenth century, as did the practice of celebrating Christmas with a Christmas tree. No less than four U.S. states have adopted the melody of O Tannenbaum as their state song. Most notoriously, the state of Maryland adopted it in 1861 as "Maryland, My Maryland," and as such, the innocent Christmas song then served as a rallying cry for the Confederate cause. Nonetheless, this has not diminished the popularity of O Tannenbaum, which remains as evergreen as the very cut of tree that it was written to celebrate. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title Date
15 Christmas Classics: A Yuletide Concert 1998
25 All Time Christmas Favorites 2003
40 Most Beautiful Christmas Classics 2007
50 Most Loved Christmas Carols 2005
A Blessed Christmas: Traditional Christian Christmas 2004
A Choral Christmas: The Gold Collection 2002
A Christmas Album 2002
A Christmas Choral Spectacular
A Christmas Collection 2006
A Christmas Festival 1999
A Christmas Festival of Songs [Barnes & Noble Exclusive] 2005
A Christmas Gift: Christmas Treasures 2004
A Christmas Traditional Treasury 2002
A Classic Christmas 2000
A Family Christmas 1999
A Festival of Carols in Brass 1967
A Festival of Christmas
A Holiday Journey 2002
A Pan Flute Chirstmas [St. Clair 1999] 1999
A Romantic Sax Christmas [Premiere] 1999
A Traditional Christmas [St. Clair] 1999
A Traditional Christmas: The Gold Collection 2002
A Treasury Of Christmas Favorites 1998
A Victoria Christmas in Song 1993
All Time Christmas Favorites [3 CD Madacy] 2005
All Time Christmas Favorites [3 CD Madacy] 2005
All Time Christmas Favorites [Disc #1] 1998
All Time Christmas Favorites [Disc #2] 1998
American Christmas
An A Capella Christmas 2003
An American Christmas [Immergent] 2008
An Olde English Christmas 2007
Angels We Have Heard on High 2006
Antique Christmas Treasury 1999
Antique Christmas Treasury 1999
Antique Christmas Treasury 1999
Ave Maria [Disky] 2005
Ave Maria: Christmas Favorites 1993
Ave Maria: Christmas Favorites 1993
Away In a Manger [Intersound] 1997
Away in the Manger 2001
Barbara Hendricks Sings Christmas 1995
Bells at Christmas
Bergonzi: Weihnachten
Best Carols 100 2007
Best of Christmas: 48 Beautiful Christmas Faves 2002
Best-Loved Christmas Carols 2000
Beyond Warped: Live Music Series 2005
Big Band Christmas [Pamplin] 2001
Bläser Weihnacht 2007
Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 5 2003
Buon Natale: Italo Weihnacht mit Den Stars
Carols for Brass
Carols for Christmas, Vols. 1-2 1984
Celestial Christmas, Vol.2
Ceremony and Carols 1997
Chante Noel 2001
Chantent Noel
Children Sing for Children: 25 Christmas Songs 2002
Children's Christmas Classics, Vol. 3 2002
Chirstmas Carols from East and West 1989
Christmas 'Round the World 2008
Christmas Adagios 2001
Christmas Album 2003
Christmas Album: Original Masters 2003
Christmas Album: Original Masters 2003
Christmas Angels
Christmas Around the World [Laserlight #2] 1995
Christmas Candlelight 2000
Christmas Carols [Medalist Entertainment] 2002
Christmas Classics 1987
Christmas Classics 2002
Christmas Classics 1994
Christmas Classics [Box Set]
Christmas Classics [Immergent] 2008
Christmas Concert 1998
Christmas Eve 2000
Christmas Extraordinaire 2001
Christmas Favorites 2002
Christmas Gala 2006
Christmas Gifts 1983
Christmas Goes Baroque 1991
Christmas Greatest Hits [Sony] 1995
Christmas Harp 2007
Christmas Harps 1990
Christmas Hymns & Carols [Delta] 2000
Christmas Hymns and Carols/You Do Something to Me 2004
Christmas In Vienna 1991
Christmas Joy [Madacy Single Disc 2003] 2003
Christmas Magic [Direct Source] 2002
Christmas Magic [Madacy] 2002
Christmas Magic [Madacy] 2002
Christmas Magic: A Holiday Collection 2000
Christmas Memories Gift Tin 2008
Christmas Memories, Vol. 1
Christmas Music Box [Legacy Box] 2005
Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity 1987
Christmas Songs 1996
Christmas Songs 1987
Christmas Songs
Christmas Songs
Christmas Time Is Here 2003
Christmas Traditions: Americana Collection 2004
Christmas Voices & Bells 1992
Christmas With Leontyne Price 1990
Christmas With Mantovani Orchestra: The Gold Collection 2002
Christmas With Marilyn Horne 1997
Christmas With the Frederic Hilary Chorale 2003
Christmas With the Robert Shaw Chorale
Christmas With the Vienna Choir Boys/Placido Domingo/Hermann Prey 1988
Christmas around the World 1997
Christmas from a Golden Age 2000
Christmas from the Heart 1996
Christmas in New England 2001
Christmas in the Aire 2005
Christmas in the Cathedral of Halle
Christmas in the Cathedral of Halle
Christmas in the Country [Centaur] 1999
Christmas on Toys 2003
Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa 1985
Christmas with Mantovani 2001
Christmas with Mario Lanza 1992
Christmas with the Giannini Brass 1997
Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra [1999 St. Clair] 1999
Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra [2007 St. Clair] 2007
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir [CD + DVD] 2006
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir [Laserlight] 1993
Christmas with the Pops 1990
Christmas with the Stars [Elektra/Asylum] 1998
Christmas with the University of Texas at Austin Trombone Choir
Christmas with... 1991
Christmas' Greatest Voices
Christmas' Greatest Voices 1995
Classic Christmas for Your Family 2000
Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 1999] 1999
Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 2001] 2001
Classical Christmas with Helmut Lotti 1999
Classics For Christmas 2004
Coca-Cola: Choral Christmas 2007
Coming Home 2002
Concerto Di Natale 1995
Coro Stella Alpina Treviso
Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season 1999
Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season 1999
Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season (Box Set) 2000
Das Grosse Weihnachts-Wunschkonzert
December Night 2005
Deck The Halls 2001
Deutsche Weihnachtslieder 1992
Die Schönsten Weihnachtslieder [Sonia] 2003
Die Schönsten Weihnachtslieder [Sonia] 2003
Es Ist ein Ros' Entsprungen 1991
German University Songs, Vol. 3 1999
Gifts: The Joys of Harp
Gloria! The Music of Christmas 1989
Grands Airs de Noël (Christmas Greatest Songs) 2003
Great Orchestral Music of Christmas 2008
Greatest Christmas Show on Earth 1998
Happy Holidays 1997
Healing Holiday Classics 2009
Holiday Cheer [St. Clair] 2005
Holiday Favorites [Madacy] 2002
Holiday Favorites [Madacy] 2002
Holiday Instruments 2002
Holiday Sounds 1997
Holiday Sounds 1997
Holiday Sounds 1997
Holiday Sounds of Manhattan Strings [BCI 2004] 2004
Home for the Holidays 2003
Home for the Holidays [Madacy #1] 2004
Hosianna! Christmas Music 1999
I'll Be Home for Christmas [Happy Holidays] 1996
In Dulci Jubilo: Christmas with James Galway 1991
In Dulci Jubilo: Holiday Music of the Notre Dame Glee Club 2001
Instrumental Christmas [Lifestyles] 2001
International Holiday Collection 2008
Ivory Christmas 2001
Joy to the World
Joy to the World 2002
Joy to the World 2002
Joy to the World [Bonus Tracks] 1990
Joy to the World: Music of Christmas 1988
Joy to the World: Music of Christmas 1988
Les Plus Beaux Noels Au Saxophone et a l'Orge 2000
Longwood Gardens Christmas 1996
Lotte Lehmann Sings Lieder & Orchestral Songs, 1941-1950 2005
Mad About Christmas 1994
Magic of Christmas 2001
Mantovani Orchestra [Fine Tune] 2001
Many Moods of Christmas 2004
Martha Stewart Living Music: Classical Favorites for the Holidays 2005
Masters in This Hall: Christmas Music for Men's Chorus
Memories of Christmas 2000
Merry Christmas 1999
Merry Christmas 2005
Merry Christmas 2005
Merry Christmas [Naxos] 1994
Merry Christmas with Plácido Domingo, Hermann Prey and the Vienna Choir Boys
Merry Christmas with The... 2001
Merry Christmas: Carols from North America and Europe 2004
Mistletoe Sax 2002
Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Vienna Boy's Choir 1999
Music for the Festive Season 1994
Musica Sacra: Christmas Carols 1987
My Christmas
My Christmas 2009
Nacht voller Wunder: Irmgard Seefried erzählt und singt
Noel du Monde
Noel! Voices Of Christmas 2008
Noel: Carols For Solo Harp 2003
Norman Rockwell: A Merry Little Christmas 2006
Norman Rockwell: A Merry Little Christmas 2006
Noël Autour du Monde 2001
Noël aux instruments 2008
Nun Singet und Seid Froh 2008
O Christmas Tree/1st Noel/Amazing Grace 1993
O Holy Night 2005
Peter Schreier Singt Weihnachtslieder (Peter Schreier Sings Christmas Carols) 1993
Posaunenquintett Berlin, Vol. 2
Reader's Digest: A Glorious Christmas 1992
Roberto Alagna: The Christmas Album 2000
Rockwell: Christmas Memories 2007
Sacred Christmas [Star Song] 2007
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town [Premiere] 1998
Season's Greetings: The Gold Collection 2002
Serenity: Beautiful Choral Music [Box Set] 2008
Signature Series: A Hometown Christmas, Vol. 1 2003
Silent Night (Box Set) 1999
Silent Night [Madacy] 2006
Silent Night: A Treasury of Christmas Carols and Hymns 2004
Simply Christmas [Universal] 2003
Simply Christmas: Home for the Holidays 2006
Simply the Best Christmas Album 2001
Sing A Song of Christmas [Premiere] 1998
Songs for the Season [Maranatha] 2003
Songs of Angels: Christmas Hymn 1994
Sounds of Christmas: Christmas Classics 2005
Spirit Of Christmas 2001
Spirit Of Christmas 2003
Spirit of the Season 2008
Starlite Christmas 2004
Stars singen und spielen zur Weihnachtszeit
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht: Festliche Musik zur Weihnacht 2005
Swing Ye Noël: Spectacular Big Band Arrangements of Holiday Classics
Tenor's Christmas 2002
The #1 Christmas Album [Decca] 2001
The Art of the Posthorn 2006
The Best Of Christmas [Madacy 5] 2004
The Best Of Christmas [Madacy 5] 2004
The Best Of Christmas [Madacy Box] 1996
The Best of Christmas 1995
The Best of Christmas [Madacy 6] 2005
The Cambridge Singers Christmas Companion 2000
The Christmas Album 2006
The Christmas I Love 1997
The Christmas Spirit 1992
The Great Voices of Christmas 1994
The Great Voices of Christmas [Polygram] 1996
The Ice Harvest 2005
The Incredible Christmas Album 2003
The Irish Tenor Christmas [DVD] 2007
The Joy of Christmas 2002
The Magic of Christmas 1999
The Most Beautiful Sounds of Christmas
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year [Reader's Digest] 1999
The Spirit Of Christmas [Madacy 1999] 1999
The Spirit of Christmas [Sparrow] 2003
The Spirit of Christmas, Vol. 2 1999
The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols 2006
The Three Tenors Christmas 2000
The Three Tenors Christmas [CD & DVD] 2004
The Three Tenors Christmas [SACD] 2000
The Ultimate Christmas Album 2008
Traditional Christmas Favorites 2001
Traditional Christmas Favourites 2005
Traditions: The Time Life Treasury of Christmas 2009
Treasury of Christmas [Box Set] [Collector's Tin] 2006
Ultimate Classical Christmas Album of All Time 2002
Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album 2002
Unwrapped 2006
Ve Iss Da Mighty Tubadours Ya?
Victorian Christmas 2003
Victorian Christmas 2003
Victorian Christmas [DualDisc] 2005
Vienna Boys' Choir Christmas Favorites 1999
Voices of Christmas
Voices of Christmas 1997
Voices of Xmas 2002
Weihnachten mit Rudolf SC 1990
What Child Is This? 2000
White Christmas in Jerusalem 2006
Winds of the Season
Winter Wonderland 1998
Winter Wonderland [St. Clair] 2002
World's Favorite Christmas Carols [Start Classics] 1999
Yuletide Favorites 1996
Zamfir: A Christmas Portrait

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title Date
Christmas in Vienna 1993
Classic Christmas Album 1996
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Classical Work. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more