Erika (song)

"Erika" is a marching song that was used by the German military, primarily during the Nazi regime. The song was composed by Herms Niel in the 1930s, and it soon came into usage by the Wehrmacht, especially the Heer. According to Michael Tillotson, no other marching song during World War II reached the popularity of "Erika".[1]

Origins

"Erika" is both a common German female name and the German word for heather. The lyrics and melody of the song were written by Herms Niel, a German composer of marches. The exact year of the song's origin is not known; often the date is given as "about 1931",[2] a date that, however, has not been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Louis Oertel in Großburgwedel. It had been popular prior to the start of World War II.[3] The song encourages hard work, and according to Michael Tillotson, no other marching song during World War II reached the popularity of Erika.[4] It was extensively played at large political events.[5]

Music

The song begins with the line "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" (On the Heath a Little Flower Blooms), the theme of a flower (Erika) bearing a soldier's sweetheart's name.[4] After each line, and after each time the name "Erika" is sung, there is a three beat pause, which is filled by the kettledrum or stomping feet (e.g. of marching soldiers), shown as (xxx) in the text below.

\header { tagline = ##f } \paper { paper-width = 240\mm } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key g \major \numericTimeSignature \time 2/4 } heidetenor = \relative c'' { b,4. c8 | d4 d | d g | g b | b4. a8 | g4 s | s2 | fis4 g | a s | s2 | b4. a8 | g4 s | s2 } tenorVoice = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"brass section" \voiceOne \dynamicUp \repeat volta 2 { \heidetenor \bar ":|." } d,4. g8 | fis4 fis | fis fis | e fis | g s | s2 | fis4. g8 | a4 a | a a | d4. c8 | b4 s | s2 \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { Auf der Hei -- de blüht ein klei -- nes Blü -- me -- lein, und das heißt E -- ri ka. Denn ihr Herz ist vol -- ler Sü -- ßig -- keit zar -- ter Duft ent -- strömt dem Blü -- ten -- kleid. } verseR = \lyricmode { Heiß von hun --dert -- tau -- send klei -- nen Bie -- ne lein wird um -- schwärmt E -- ri -- ka. } heideshots = { s2*5 |s4 \override NoteHead #'style = #'cross e4 | e e | s2 | s4 e | e e | s2 | s4 e | e \mark \markup \small "Fine" e \bar ":|." } shots = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"gunshot" \voiceTwo \repeat volta 2 { \heideshots } s2*4 | s4 e | e e | s2*4 | s4 e | e \mark \markup \small "D.C. al Fine" e \bar "|." } \score { << \new Voice = "singer" { \tenorVoice } \addlyrics { \verse } \addlyrics { \verseR } \\ \new Voice = "shots" { \shots } >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \tenorVoice \\ \shots >> << \heidetenor \\ \heideshots >> } \midi { \tempo 4=120 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } }

Lyrics
Erica tetralix, "Erika"

References
  1. Tillotson, Michael. "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. "Als ich gestern einsam ging ..." by Leonore Böhm, Der neue Tag (Weiden in der Oberpfalz) (Grafenwöhr), 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2014. (archived, (Seite 4 [page 4])) (in German)
  3. Berszinski, Sabine (2000). Modernisierung im Nationalsozialismus? : Eine soziologische Kategorie und Entwicklungen im deutschen Schlager 1933–45 [Modernization under National Socialism? : A Sociological Category and Developments in German popular music 1933–45] (magister thesis) (in German). Institut für Soziologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. p. 54.
  4. Tillotson, Michael (2016-10-03). "Songs soldiers sang in the face of battle". The Times. London. p. 81.
  5. Oliver Seibt; Martin Ringsmut; David-Emil Wickström (2020). Made in Germany: Studies in Popular Music. Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 44–45. ISBN 978-1-351-20079-0.
  6. "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein (Erika)", volksliederarchiv.de
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.