“Adeste fideles” • “Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen” – Lyrics

by | Dec 23, 2020

A Christmas Carol in Latin, German, and English The traditional carol “Adeste fideles” is popular in the English-speaking world and in France and Germany. Its 18th century Latin origins are known, but it is not entirely clear who actually wrote those Latin...

“Kommet, ihr Hirten” – Lyrics

by | Nov 24, 2020

A German Christmas Carol in German and English Music: from a Czech carol (ca. 1700) Lyrics: Carl Riedel (1870) “Kommet, ihr Hirten” (Come, ye shepherds) is a German Christmas carol that was derived from the Czech carol, “Nesem vám noviny” (We...

Richard Wagner, Bayreuth and Italy

by | Jul 20, 2020

“The Ring of the Nibelung” Introduction Richard Wagner (1813-1883) revolutionized classical music with his Tristan und Isolde (1859) and The Ring (1874). His tremendous influence on opera came from his “musical dramas,” including the...