"Midnight on the Stormy Deep" is a song recorded in July 1927 by Ernest V. Stoneman at the famous Bristol Sessions in Bristol, Tennessee. The Carter Family was also present at the Bristol sessions in 1927. They didn't record "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" in 1927, but 29 years later, in 1956 on the same location, they did.
What most people don't know is that "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" originated as a German poem by Wilhelm Hauff (1802-1827).
This German poem called "Soldatenliebe" (Soldier's Love) was anonymously published by Hauff in 1824, in the book "Kriegs- und Volkslieder".
In 1828, one year after the death of Wilhelm Hauff, this poem was published again in a collection of his poems: "Phantasien und Skizzen" (this time set to the music of an existing melody: "Ich hab ein kleines Hüttchen nur" (I only have a little cottage) (written in 1780)
Listen here to a midi of "Ich hab ein kleines Hüttchen nur"
In 1830 "Soldatenliebe" was published (as "Treue Liebe") (True Love) in the collection "Auswahl Deutscher Lieder" (Leipzig 1830)
Here's a MIDI of "Treue Liebe":
The song was also contained in "Wilhelm Hauff's saemmtliche Werke: Mit des Dichters Leben, Volume 1" by Gustav Schwab (published in Stuttgart in 1840).
Once again it was called "Soldatenliebe"
(with an additional 6th verse)
With yet another title ("Steh Ich In Finstrer Mitternacht") the song is also mentioned on page 126 of the following book: "Unsere Volkstümlichen Lieder" by Hoffman von Fallersleben (1859)
As "Steh Ich In Finstrer Mitternacht" (I Stand In Gloomy Midnight) it was also contained in many German songbooks:
And here are the recordings of the song, beginning with the oldest German version:
(o) Erich Schrader 1907 (as "Steh' ich in finst'rer Mitternacht" )
German Tenor with Orchestra Accompaniment
Recorded in Berlin, Germany
Matrix:XB 1850
Originally released on Jumbo A 43148 (on B-side of Jumbo A 43160)
Erich Schrader & Kapellmeister Dannenberg
Listen to a sample here:
(c) Silcher-Quartett (1909) (as "Treue Liebe")
Recorded in Karlsruhe, Germany in December
1909.
Master 12789
Treue Liebe — Volkslied (anonymous: German, ca. 1780 / Wilhelm Hauff)
(arr.: Friedrich Silcher) Steh' ich in finst'rer Mitternacht
Released on Beka-Grand 12789
(c) Nebe Quartett (1910).
Carl Nebe (bass). Deutsches Volkslieder-Quartett (male quartet: ten - ten - bar - CN).
Recorded in Berlin, Germany on March 1, 1910.
Treue Liebe — Volkslied (anonymous: German, ca. 1780 / Wilhelm Hauff)
(arr.: Friedrich Silcher) Steh' ich in finst'rer Mitternacht
Released on Veni Vidi Vici 813
(c) Carl Nebe-Quartett (1911).
Carl Nebe (bass).
Nebe-Quartett (male quartet: ten - ten - bar - CN).
Recorded in Berlin, Germany around June 1911
Master xBo 4375
Treue Liebe — Volkslied (anonymous: German, ca. 1780 / Wilhelm Hauff)
Steh' ich in finst'rer Mitternacht (arr.: Peters)
Released on:
Jumbo/Odeon BL (Germany) A 47353
Odeon GN (Germany) 308626
Odeon BL (Germany) O-1220 (308626)
(c) Friedrich Kark (1911)
Friedrich Kark (MD). — (orchestra). (male quartet).
Recorded in Berlin around September 1911 at the Beka-Record Schallplattenfabrik, SO.36, Heidelberger Straße 75-76
Master 13811
Treue Liebe — Volkslied (anonymous: German, ca. 1780 / Wilhelm Hauff)
(arr.: Friedrich Silcher)
Steh' ich in finst'rer Mitternacht
Released on Beka RD (Germany) B 3671-I
(c) Carl Schlegel (1916) ("Steh' ich in finst'rer mitternacht")
Composer: Friedrich Silcher / Lyricist: Wilhelm Hauff
The next version of "Treue Liebe" is a different song:
(c) Eduard Mittelstadt (1921) ("Treue Liebe")
Recorded on July 11, 1921 in New York.
Released on
Edison 73002
Edison matrix 8124. Treue Liebe / Eduard Mittelstadt - Discography of American Historical Recordings
(c) Richard Tauber (1926)
("Treue Liebe (Steh Ich In Finstrer Mitternacht)"
Recorded October 1, 1926 in Berlin
Released on Odeon O-4904 as part of the 78-album set "Das Deutche Volkslied"
Listen here:
William Howitt (1792-1879) was most likely responsible for the English translation of Hauff's "Soldatenliebe", which is very similar to the original German lyrics.
In turn, Howitt's English translation as "The Night Guard", was taken over almost literally in the most famous English version: "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" (see further on in this post)
Here below a comparison of the 3 versions:
The version as "The Night Guard" was contained in "War-Songs for Freemen" (1863)
But already in 1841 William Howitt had translated the German song in the book "The Student-Life of Germany", where it was titled "True Love".
The Student-life of Germany: From the Unpublished Ms. of Dr. Cornelius ; Containing Nearly Forty ...
And in 1857 the most familiar version (as "Midnight on the Stormy Deep") was published by Miller & Beachham in Baltimore:
Here's the Sheetmusic:
The first recording of "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" is possibly this one by Lester McFarland and Robert A. Gardner
Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner, v duet;
acc. Lester McFarland, md; Robert A. Gardner, g;
Recorded in New York, NY Saturday, October 16, 1926
E-3950W Midnight On The Stormy Deep Vo 5125
Listen here
(c) Ernest Stoneman & Miss Irma Frost (1927) (as "Midnight On The Stormy Deep")
Recorded July 25, 1927 during the famous Bristol Sessions
Ernest Stoneman & Miss Irma Frost:
Ernest Stoneman, Irma Frost, v
duet; acc. Ernest Stoneman, h/g;
Bristol, TN Monday, July 25, 1927
Matrix 39703-3 (Victor unissued)
Finally released in 1987 on the album "The Bristol Sessions" on CMF 011-L
Listen here:
(c) Ernest V. Stoneman & His Dixie Mountaineers (1928) (as "Midnight On The Stormy Deep")
Hattie Stoneman, f; Ernest Stoneman, h/g/v; Bolen Frost, g
Recorded on November 22, 1928 in New York, NY
Matrix N-582 (Edison unissued)
Finally released in 1996 on the album "Edison Recordings" on County CD3510
Listen here:
(c) Blue Sky Boys (1936) (as "Midnight On The Stormy Sea")
Bill Bolick, tv/md; Earl Bolick, lv/g.
Recorded June 16, 1936 in Charlotte, NC
Matrix 102644-1
Released on Bluebird B-6480 and Montgomery Ward M-5033
Listen to "Midnight on the Stormy Sea" by the Blue Sky Boys:
The Blue Sky Boys' "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" was released on the B-side of "Down on the Banks of the Ohio" (which is very similar in tune to "Midnight on the Stormy Deep")
Listen to "Down on the Banks of the Ohio" by the Blue Sky Boys:
(c) Carter Family (1956) (as"Midnight on the Stormy Deep")
Carter Family (A.P., Sara, Joe, Janette Carter)
Recorded April 20, 1956 in Bristol TN for the ACME-label (unissued at the time)
Released in 1970 on the album below
Listen here
Also released in 2008 on: The Acme Sessions 1952/56 ( JSP 4201)
A.P. and Sara re-formed the Carter Family with their grown children in 1952,
performing a concert in Maces Spring. Following the successful concert, the
Kentucky-based Acme signed A.P., Sara, and their daughter Janette to a contract, and
over the next four years they recorded nearly 100 songs that didn't gain much
attention at the time.
(c) The Lilly Bros. & Don Stover (1961) (as "Midnight On The Stormy Sea")
Listen here:
(c) Doc Watson & Bill Monroe (1963) (as "Midnight on the Stormy Deep")
Bill Monroe & Doc Watson viz Bill Monroe
Recorded May 1963 [live] The Ash Grove, Los Angeles, CA -
Released on F.B.N. Music Club FBN-210
Listen here:
(c) Bill Monroe (1966) (as"Midnight on the Stormy Deep")
Recorded December 16, 1966 in Nashville, TN
Bill Monroe
Peter Rowan (leadvocals and guitar), Philip Grier (banjo), James Monroe (bass), Richard Greene (fiddle).
Producer: Harry Silverstein)
Listen here:
(c) Peter Rowan (2001) (as "Midnight on the Stormy Deep")
Peter Rowan and Don Edwards (Nancy Blake [gt], Tony Rice [gt], Billy Bright [mandolin], Bryn Bright [bass])
Recorded August/December 2001 Western Jubilee Warehouse, Colorado Springs, CO –
Released on Shanachie CD-6058 Dualtone 80302-01175-2
Listen here:
Thank you sooo much for all this!! I sing this song (my favorite version has been the Bill Monroe/Doc Watson duet) and I was in tears listening to the German songs with the same melody! Excellent research.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenYou're welcome.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenJoop greets