by Guest » Tue May 14, 2013 8:11 pm
Unfortunately it turns out that the use of the tune Edelweiss to other words is totally illegal as mentioned above, in one of the posts. From the WikiPedia article:
Misconceptions about the song [edit]
The great popularity of the song has led many of its audience to believe that it is an Austrian folk song or even the official national anthem.[2] However, Austria's official anthem is "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" and the anthem used before the Anschluss was "Sei gesegnet ohne Ende". The edelweiss is a popular flower in Austria and was featured on the old 1 Schilling coin. It can also now be seen on the 2 cent Euro coin. The flower is protected in Austria and illegal to pick. An "edelweiss" is also worn as a cap device by certain Austrian Army and all German Gebirgsjäger (mountain troopers) units.[3]
There is similar confusion about another song co-authored by Hammerstein, "Ol' Man River" from the musical Showboat, which is widely (though erroneously) believed to be a Negro spiritual.[4] The similarity in misconception about the two songs has been noted by two writers, both of whom see it as tribute to Hammerstein's talents. Alyson McLamore in her book Musical theater: an appreciation writes "The last song to be written for the show was "Edelweiss," a tender little homage to a native flower of Austria that has the effect of authentic Austrian folksong, much as "Ol' Man River" struck listeners as a genuine African American spiritual"[5] Hugh Fordin in his biography of Oscar Hammerstein speaks of "the ability of the authors to simulate the quality of an authentic folk song..."Ol' Man River" had the ring of a black laborer's song...Thirty years later "Edelweiss was widely believed to be an old Austrian song, though Oscar... composed it for the Sound of Music."[6]
American church use [edit]
During the 1970s in the United States, the song became a popular tune with which to sing the benediction in some Christian churches. At a United Methodist Women's Conference, revised lyrics for the song were handed out with instructions stating that the benediction was to be sung to the tune of "Edelweiss". The trend spread quickly across different denominations of Christianity, and it is still very common to hear the benedictory lyrics ("May the Lord, Mighty God") sung to an organ or piano accompaniment of the song from the Sound of Music.
Legal problems [edit]
The estates of Rodgers and Hammerstein have not authorized the use of alternative lyrics with the melody of the song, making this practice illegal. Rodgers stated that "he would take legal action against any group" using the "Edelweiss" melody with altered words;[7] the current rightsholders comply with his wishes, refusing to grant permission for these requests, which are "inconsistent with the creators' intentions".[8]
Unfortunately it turns out that the use of the tune Edelweiss to other words is totally illegal as mentioned above, in one of the posts. From the WikiPedia article:
Misconceptions about the song [edit]
The great popularity of the song has led many of its audience to believe that it is an Austrian folk song or even the official national anthem.[2] However, Austria's official anthem is "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" and the anthem used before the Anschluss was "Sei gesegnet ohne Ende". The edelweiss is a popular flower in Austria and was featured on the old 1 Schilling coin. It can also now be seen on the 2 cent Euro coin. The flower is protected in Austria and illegal to pick. An "edelweiss" is also worn as a cap device by certain Austrian Army and all German Gebirgsjäger (mountain troopers) units.[3]
There is similar confusion about another song co-authored by Hammerstein, "Ol' Man River" from the musical Showboat, which is widely (though erroneously) believed to be a Negro spiritual.[4] The similarity in misconception about the two songs has been noted by two writers, both of whom see it as tribute to Hammerstein's talents. Alyson McLamore in her book Musical theater: an appreciation writes "The last song to be written for the show was "Edelweiss," a tender little homage to a native flower of Austria that has the effect of authentic Austrian folksong, much as "Ol' Man River" struck listeners as a genuine African American spiritual"[5] Hugh Fordin in his biography of Oscar Hammerstein speaks of "the ability of the authors to simulate the quality of an authentic folk song..."Ol' Man River" had the ring of a black laborer's song...Thirty years later "Edelweiss was widely believed to be an old Austrian song, though Oscar... composed it for the Sound of Music."[6]
American church use [edit]
During the 1970s in the United States, the song became a popular tune with which to sing the benediction in some Christian churches. At a United Methodist Women's Conference, revised lyrics for the song were handed out with instructions stating that the benediction was to be sung to the tune of "Edelweiss". The trend spread quickly across different denominations of Christianity, and it is still very common to hear the benedictory lyrics ("May the Lord, Mighty God") sung to an organ or piano accompaniment of the song from the Sound of Music.
Legal problems [edit]
The estates of Rodgers and Hammerstein have not authorized the use of alternative lyrics with the melody of the song, making this practice illegal. Rodgers stated that "he would take legal action against any group" using the "Edelweiss" melody with altered words;[7] the current rightsholders comply with his wishes, refusing to grant permission for these requests, which are "inconsistent with the creators' intentions".[8]
