Wien und der Wein

About this CD:

Heurigen - Vienna is surrounded by hills called Wienerwald. In the wine villages on the outskirts Grinzing, Sievering, Nußdorf etc. inns offer the “Heurigen Wein” (this year's wine), often grown by the innkeeper. Green leaves over the entrance (der Busch) welcome people to taste it. Often wandering musicians play in the inns - Heurigen- or Schrammelmusik.

Liesl Müller sings the songs that were popular in the first half of the 20th century, and many still are.

Ich muss wieder einmal in Grinzing sein…
I want to be in Grinzing once again (Vienna suburb famous for its wine taverns and music)
It is Sunday. Father exhorts his wife and youngsters to dress in all their finery for an outing to Grinzing. There they drink wine, listen to music and spend a happy time. At night, having returned in high spirits under twinkling stars, they dream of the lovely time they had, and father reflects that God did a wonderful job in creating Sunday after six working days. For this we must be truly grateful.

Sag' beim Abschied leise Servus
The Latin “Servus” (your servant) is used in Vienna as a charming, informal greeting among friends.
Nothing lasts for ever, not music, not happiness, not love, and when it comes to the parting of the ways, softly say Servus, not 'good-bye' or 'farewell', such words hurt. But Servus is a kind last word, and even if you never meet again it leaves you with a wonderful memory of your happy times together.

Drunt' in der Lobau
Down there in the Lobau
(a beautiful country area on the Danube on the outskirts of Vienna)
A nostalgic song, a memory of youth, - alas, she cannot find the place where her young man kissed her, but she does remember every bit of that wonderful moment when they kissed: nightingales were singing, happiness laughed from a thousand branches, and they dreamt of everlasting love.

Schön ist so ein Ringelspiel
This is a light-hearted Viennese song, the creation of two of mother's good friends, Hermann Leopoldi and the librettist and poet, Peter Herz, who had lived opposite us in Vienna.
To the background music of the merry-go-round in the Vienna Prater (fairground) a husband and his floozy, to their consternation, spot his wife with his lodger.

Wien, du Stadt (meiner Träume)
Vienna, Vienna, oh city of my dreams, city of beautiful old houses and charming young girls. Whenever I am happy you are not far from my mind.

In einem kleinen Café in Hernals
In a small Café in Hernals
I discovered a small homely café in the outskirts of Vienna. No velvet on armchairs, no pedal on the piano. The Grand Hotel is more fashionable, but the Café a thousand times cosier. Softly a gramophone is playing, two coffees are enough to ensure two happy hours, and when two lovers meet the waiters wink knowingly and discreetly look the other way.

In Wien gibt's manch winziges Gasserl
There's many a tiny alley in Vienna. Father urges wife and children to get ready for an outing, not into the country, as usual, but to explore the small, picturesque back streets of Vienna: sleepy houses, tiny taverns, soft music, golden wine, and he reminds his wife of their long-lost youth, of falling in love, kissing by moonlight, flowers in bloom, violins singing and total enchantment.

Im Prater blühn wieder die Bäume
The trees in the Prater (park and fairground in Vienna) are in bloom again
The trees in the Prater are in bloom again, the vines are growing in Sievering (vineyard area near Vienna), the scented greenery shines in the sunlight, wonderful dreams come into my head - it must be Springtime again.

Mei' Mutterl war a Wienerin, drum hab I Wien so gern
My mother was Viennese, that's why I love Vienna as I do.
On a lovely Sunday morning mother took me up the Kahlenberg. As we looked down on St. Stephen's Cathedral, the blue Danube and the sea of houses she gently stroked my hair and said solemnly: “There is your home, your beautiful Vienna. Promise to keep it in your heart”, and I always kept my promise.

Das Silberne Kandl
The Little Silver Jug
I remember a small and cosy inn - the “Little Silver Jug” - where a jolly landlord and his pretty daughter served good wine and tasty food, and a casual visitor soon became a regular guest.
Nowadays the Little Silver Jug is a large, glamorous restaurant