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At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe is living in peace and prosperity. The “Belle Époque” is an outgrowth of previous important historical events and developments. The networks that are created and which evolve funnel both people and their products, tangible and intangible. It is within this multi-layered world that sound recording and sound reproduction is invented. Early record labels send mobile crews literally all over the world to record local musicians. The range of the repertoire is endless. Cosmopolitanism in large urban centers favors polystylisms and polymorphisms. Colonialism, revolutions, conflicts, refugee flows; the theater, cinema, radio, photography, orchestras’ tours, but also circulations in all kinds of commercial channels in a world that evolves dynamically and anisotropically, form a complex network of “centers” and “peripheries” in alternating roles setting musical idioms in motion, both literally and figuratively. The networks in which the Greek-speaking musics participate, constantly conversing with their co-tenants, are magnificent. Discography has already provided important tools in understanding the relationships that developed between “national” repertoires. The result of this ongoing research is “Cosmopolitanism in Greek Historical Discography”.
The inextricable relation between music and performing arts is more than vital. The cinema (as well as the theater too) traffics music on its own terms and plays a key role in diffusing it to places that are often far away. It also builds a special network that communicates with discography. Some of the songs written for the cinema are often the tip of the spear as regards the popularity of the films. One such case is this recording.
We are dealing with an adaptation of the song "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’" set to music by Austrian composer and conductor Robert Stolz (Graz, Austro-Hungarian Empire, August 25, 1880 - Berlin, June 27, 1975) and lyrics by Walter Reisch (Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire, May 23, 1903 - Los Angeles, March 28, 1983), also an Austrian director, writer and lyricist. The Greek lyrics were written by Pol Menestrel (Giannis Chidiroglou).
The song comes from the German film "Das lied ist aus" (watch the film here), directed by Géza von Bolváry, produced by Super Film GmbH, with Willy Forst and Liane Haid in the leading roles. The film, which was also shot in a French-language version under the title "Petit officier... Adieu!" with the addition of French actor André Baugé, premiered in Berlin on October 7, 1930. In Greece, it was shown under the title "Mi rotas giati" (Don't ask why).
Both the film and the songs included in the soundtrack were a great success, which is reflected in historical discography with recordings in various languages and regions of the world, either in song or instrumental form. Three songs from the German film can be found in Greek-speaking discography. These are "Adieu, mein kleiner Gardeoffizier" (see "Antio mikre mou"), "Frag' nicht, warum ich gehe" (see "Mi rotas giati") and "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’" (the song on this recording).
"Ja, wenn das Wörtchen "wenn" nicht wär’" is found in fewer recordings compared to the two songs mentioned above, which are mainly found in German and French-speaking recordings. For example:
– "Wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Marek Weber und sein orchester Leo Moll, Berlin, September 26, 1930 (Electrola BD 9074-2 – 60-1207 – E.G. 2068).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Willy Frost, probably Berlin, October 2, 1930 (Ultraphon 15303 – A-602).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Ben Berlin Tanz Orchester, Berlin, 1930, (Grammophon 1282 BT II – C 40261 – 23611).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Orchestre de danse Alexander – Maurice Alexander (accordion), Paris, June 4, 1931 (Columbia L 3144 – DF 650).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen wenn nicht wär’", Frank Fox Dance Orchester – Otto Neumann, Vienna, 1931 (Columbia DWA 291 – DV 396).
This recording is the only recording of the song in Greek historical discography.
The instrumental version of the song by the Columbia Tanz Orchester (Berlin, 1931, Columbia W.R. 93) was also released by the Columbia Greece with catalog number D.G. 101.
The Greek commercial musical score of the song was published in Athens, in 1930, by the Stefanos Gaitanos publishing house (see here).
Research and text: Leonardos Kounadis and Nikos Ordoulidis
At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe is living in peace and prosperity. The “Belle Époque” is an outgrowth of previous important historical events and developments. The networks that are created and which evolve funnel both people and their products, tangible and intangible. It is within this multi-layered world that sound recording and sound reproduction is invented. Early record labels send mobile crews literally all over the world to record local musicians. The range of the repertoire is endless. Cosmopolitanism in large urban centers favors polystylisms and polymorphisms. Colonialism, revolutions, conflicts, refugee flows; the theater, cinema, radio, photography, orchestras’ tours, but also circulations in all kinds of commercial channels in a world that evolves dynamically and anisotropically, form a complex network of “centers” and “peripheries” in alternating roles setting musical idioms in motion, both literally and figuratively. The networks in which the Greek-speaking musics participate, constantly conversing with their co-tenants, are magnificent. Discography has already provided important tools in understanding the relationships that developed between “national” repertoires. The result of this ongoing research is “Cosmopolitanism in Greek Historical Discography”.
The inextricable relation between music and performing arts is more than vital. The cinema (as well as the theater too) traffics music on its own terms and plays a key role in diffusing it to places that are often far away. It also builds a special network that communicates with discography. Some of the songs written for the cinema are often the tip of the spear as regards the popularity of the films. One such case is this recording.
We are dealing with an adaptation of the song "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’" set to music by Austrian composer and conductor Robert Stolz (Graz, Austro-Hungarian Empire, August 25, 1880 - Berlin, June 27, 1975) and lyrics by Walter Reisch (Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire, May 23, 1903 - Los Angeles, March 28, 1983), also an Austrian director, writer and lyricist. The Greek lyrics were written by Pol Menestrel (Giannis Chidiroglou).
The song comes from the German film "Das lied ist aus" (watch the film here), directed by Géza von Bolváry, produced by Super Film GmbH, with Willy Forst and Liane Haid in the leading roles. The film, which was also shot in a French-language version under the title "Petit officier... Adieu!" with the addition of French actor André Baugé, premiered in Berlin on October 7, 1930. In Greece, it was shown under the title "Mi rotas giati" (Don't ask why).
Both the film and the songs included in the soundtrack were a great success, which is reflected in historical discography with recordings in various languages and regions of the world, either in song or instrumental form. Three songs from the German film can be found in Greek-speaking discography. These are "Adieu, mein kleiner Gardeoffizier" (see "Antio mikre mou"), "Frag' nicht, warum ich gehe" (see "Mi rotas giati") and "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’" (the song on this recording).
"Ja, wenn das Wörtchen "wenn" nicht wär’" is found in fewer recordings compared to the two songs mentioned above, which are mainly found in German and French-speaking recordings. For example:
– "Wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Marek Weber und sein orchester Leo Moll, Berlin, September 26, 1930 (Electrola BD 9074-2 – 60-1207 – E.G. 2068).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Willy Frost, probably Berlin, October 2, 1930 (Ultraphon 15303 – A-602).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Ben Berlin Tanz Orchester, Berlin, 1930, (Grammophon 1282 BT II – C 40261 – 23611).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen „wenn“ nicht wär’", Orchestre de danse Alexander – Maurice Alexander (accordion), Paris, June 4, 1931 (Columbia L 3144 – DF 650).
– "Ja, wenn das Wörtchen wenn nicht wär’", Frank Fox Dance Orchester – Otto Neumann, Vienna, 1931 (Columbia DWA 291 – DV 396).
This recording is the only recording of the song in Greek historical discography.
The instrumental version of the song by the Columbia Tanz Orchester (Berlin, 1931, Columbia W.R. 93) was also released by the Columbia Greece with catalog number D.G. 101.
The Greek commercial musical score of the song was published in Athens, in 1930, by the Stefanos Gaitanos publishing house (see here).
Research and text: Leonardos Kounadis and Nikos Ordoulidis
© 2019 KOUNADIS ARCHIVE
