Traditional German folk songs of joy and longing.

The collection of German folk songs is one of the biggest in the world.
During recorded history singing as a means of expressing oneself and
communicating with each other was as common all through the German culture as was drinking beer and wine. In fact when sitting at home, in a tavern, or around a campfire, no evening would pass without some singing taking place. When trades men were on their way home from work or “wandering” between jobs, house wives or maids did their daily chores, and during days of festivities, singing folk songs was an integral part of life. So strong was the longing for expression of one’s deepest feelings through song engraved into the German mind that it came as no surprise that during the Nazi time in Germany this was abused by the people in power, making the German folk song part of their propaganda. Unfortunately this left a heavy scar on German folklore and after World War II there was quite a bit of apprehension, in particular amongst the younger generation to “do as the fathers did” and, although still taught in school, folk songs were out. An additional factor was the degrading of many well known songs by transforming them into pop songs. However, many areas in Germany kept up the old traditions and the German folk song kept flowering in many families and local communities. When I started to gather people to form a group to sing German folk songs I also had to overcome some of my own “handicaps,” but I found that the joy of singing once again overcame the barriers of generational conflicts. The songs still maintain their spirit up to this day, reflecting the almost mystical longing for freedom, the joy of life, and the beauty of the land in which they were written.
-Adi Pieper

When Deuter, Adi and myself got together to sing these German folk songs, we did it in the spirit of conviviality: to have two nice hours together, enjoy tea and cookies, and sing at our hearts desire. We gradually developed more and more fondness for the old songs, discovered their beauty, were grateful for their simplicity and let ourselves get carried away harmonizing, definitely the most fun part for me. We improvised freely and added instrumentals with flute, guitar, violin and mouth organ.

Many of the songs have the romantic theme of the “wanderer,” the apprentice to a craft, who, after having finished his apprenticeship, had to leave the town his master worked in to find his own place somewhere else. Often there was family or a beloved who had to be left behind. So, as to soothe his longing and keep his fresh walking pace he’d sing as he marched along. The longing some of the songs talk about is a German theme from the romantic period symbolized by the search of the “blue flower” (Blaue Blume), an elusive quality and a search not unlike the one for the holy grail.

The name Sterndreher, which we gave our group, translates into star
spinners. It comes from an ancient tradition. Around the time of the New
Year, singers would go in little groups from house to house, singing and
wishing blessings on the homes visited. They carried a pole with a star on top that they turned as they sang.

These songs have touched many people in wondrous ways. We invite the
listener to open their hearts and even voices, to bathe in the harmonies and sing along joyfully, just as we have experienced it with many of our friends.

-Annette Cantor

Ah, the joy of singing and the feeling of one’s voice and body resonating in the music! And what a crazy idea, here in the high desert with the Rocky Mountains in the background to be singing german folk songs.

It was this pure joy of singing, and for me moreover the pleasure of
harmonizing, which brought us together. Reconnecting me with a time of hikes in nature, evening bonfires while camping in the mountains, and vacations with my family, when I first learned these songs.

So we meet to sing and have fun with it. Sometimes we sing in a small German restaurant and whoever happens to be in town and knows the songs, can join in.

Eventually we got together in my studio and started recording, just to hear ourselves. Out of these sessions came this CD, which hopefully invites people to sing along, as well as carry the joy that we had when we were singing.

-Deuter

Deep in the thick Forrest, the blue flower will hide.
To find this blue flower you'll travel the world so wide.
The wind whispers in the branches, you hear the words in the brook
Whoever will find the blue flower, he has to have what it took
to be a Wandering Bird, to be a Wandering Bird

The symbol of the Blue Flower represents the mystical search one often finds in German folk songs. It is a symbol for the longing for the far and beyond. This specific folk song
came into existence during the early 20th century as a result of the movement "Die Wandervögel," the Wandering Birds. This movement, as a response to the industrial development, was a fall back on the old German tradition to find your luck and happiness in nature by wandering into the world looking for adventures and new horizons. And while you find all themes of life covered in German folk songs, the search for joy and happiness as an attempt to balance the grievances of daily hardships, are the most prevailing in the songs we chose for this album.