Gurre-lieder is one of the largest concert works, in terms of choral and orchestral forces, to be frequently performed. This page offers resources for choristers to learn and rehearse the three choral sections.
Gurre-lieder is in the public domain in Australia. My choral score is available for download from IMSLP and may only be used in Australia. All rights of reproduction and performance are reserved and proscribed from all other jurisdictions.
A more detailed explanation of this issue may be found here.
As a result of comparison with the manuscript full score, there are a small number of minor corrections required (to the printings bearing dates of 2002 and 2003).
Page 4, bar 179, tenors 1 and 2: add a staccato dot to the last note of the bar on "Hol-".
Page 5, bar 180, choir 1, tenor 1: last note of the bar on "Vom" should be g, not a.
Page 5, bar 181, choir 1, bass 1: first note of the bar on "Vom" should be G, not A.
Page 5, bar 183, choir 2, tenor 1 and bass 1: add a hairpin crescendo from the start of the bar on "-la" until the fortissimo marking.
Page 10, bar 203, choir 2, tenor 2: add an accent (>) to the first note of the bar on "Wal-".
Page 10, bar 204, choir 3, tenor 2: add an accent (>) to the first note of the bar on "Wal-".
Page 17, bar 242, choir 1, all parts: add a hairpin crescendo for the full duration of the bar.
All choristers should be assigned to either the firsts or seconds of their section, and additionally, tenors and basses should be allocated to one of three choirs. Specific notes accompanying the MIDI files for each part within the various choirs are found on the following pages:
| Choir I | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir II | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir III | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir IV | : Tenor 1 | |||
| Mixed choir | : Soprano 1 | / Soprano 2 | / Alto 1 | / Alto 2 |
Part 3, bars 169 – 283.
Vocal distribution: 3 male choirs, each in four parts T.1, T.2, B.1, B.2, with occasional divisi
This is probably the most difficult chorus owing to the quick tempo and the heterophonic division of the male voices into 12 parts.
MIDI files:
| Choir I | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir II | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir III | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
Text:
Waldemars Mannen:
Gegrüßt, o König, an Gurre-Seestrand!
Nun jagen wir über das Inselland!
Holla!
Vom stranglosen Bogen Pfeile zu senden,
mit höhlen Augen und Knochenhänden,
zu treffen des Hirsches Schattengebild,
daß Wiesentau aus der Wunde quillt.
Holla! Der Walstatt Raben Geleit uns gaben,
über Buchenkronen die Rosse traben,
Holla!
So jagen wir nach gemeiner Sag’
eine jede Nacht bis zum jüngsten Tag.
Holla! Hussa Hund! Hussa Pferd!
Nur kurze Zeit das Jagen währt!
Hier ist das Schloß, wie einst vor Zeiten!
Holla!
Lokes Hafer gebt den Mähren,
wir wollen vom alten Ruhme zehren.
Part 3, bars 664 – 719.
Vocal distributions: bars 664–701: male choir in eight parts, T.1a, T.1b, T.2a, T.2b, B.1a, B.1b, B.2a, B.2b (with occasional divisi within these parts,
up to 12 or 13 parts total)
bars 704–719: 3 male choirs, each in four parts T.1, T.2, B.1, B.2 as in the first chorus
For some choristers this chorus will be more difficult to learn than the first chorus, owing to the intricate chromatic writing.
MIDI files:
| Choir I | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir II | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
| Choir III | : Tenor 1 | / Tenor 2 | / Bass 1 | / Bass 2 |
Text:
Waldemars Mannen:
Der Hahn erhebt den Kopf zur Kraht,
hat den Tag schon im Schnabel,
und von unsern Schwertern trieft
rostgerötet der Morgentau.
Die Zeit ist um!
Mit offnem Munde ruft das Grab,
und die Erde saugt
das lichtscheue Rätsel ein.
Versinket! Versinket!
Das Leben kommt
mit Macht und Glanz,
mit Taten und pochenden Herzen,
und wir sind des Todes,
der Sorge und des Todes,
des Schmerzes und des Todes,
Ins Grab! Ins Grab!
Zur träumeschwangern Ruh’
Oh, könnten in Frieden
wir schlafen!
Part 3, bars 918 – 1045 (the end of the work).
Vocal distribution: mixed choir in eight parts, S.1, S.2, A.1, A.2, T.1, T.2, B.1, B.2.
There is also a brief semi-chorus lasting 9 bars where the Tenor 1 part is divided; the MIDI files assume the 1st Tenors are split by allocating voices from the three choirs, choir 1 on the one hand, and choirs 2 and 3 on the other.
Chorus 3 is the only part of the work involving the full mixed-voice choir, and hence sopranos and altos need only familiarise themselves with this chorus.
MIDI files:
Soprano 1 / Soprano 2 / Alto 1 / Alto 2
Tenor 1: Choir 1 / Choirs 2 & 3
Tenor 2 / Bass 1 / Bass 2
Text:
Gemischter Chor:
Seht die Sonne farbenfroh am Himmelssaum
östlich grüßt ihr Morgentraum.
Lächelnd kommt sie aufgestiegen
Aus den Fluten der Nacht,
läßt von lichter Stirne fliegen
Strahlenlockenpracht.
Questions regarding these Gurre-lieder pages should be addressed to Philip Legge (remembering to replace the capital letters in the address with the appropriate characters).