Sechs Monologe aus Jedermann

Sechs Monologe aus Jedermann
Six Monologues de ‘Jedermann’ pour voix intermédiaire – baryton ou alto – et piano ou orchestre | Six Monologues from ‘Jedermann’ for medium voice – baritone or alto – and piano…

Year of composition

1943

Duration

17'

Scored for

for medium voice and piano (1943)
Version for baritone or alto and orchestra: 2 3 2 2 - 2 2 3 0 - timp. - perc. - harp - piano - strings (1949)

1. Ist als zu End das Freudenmahl
2. Ach Gott, wie graust mir vor dem Tod
3. Ist als wenn eins gerufen hätt
4. So wollt ich ganz zernichtet sein
5. Ja! ich glaub: solches hat er vollbracht
6. O ewiger Gott! o göttliches Gesicht!

Publication information

Version with piano (UE12105); version with orchestra (UE12105)

Text(s)

Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929)

Text file

  1. https://www.frankmartin.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/1943-Sechs-Monologe-aus-Jedermann-de.pdf

Commentary

Six Monologues from ‘Jedermann’

The Six Monologues from ‘Jedermann’ (‘Everyman’) were composed in 1943 at the request of the baritone Max Christmann who wanted a cycle of songs for voice and piano. My plan was to follow this with an opera on the Everyman text which would include these monologues. For various reasons I gave up this idea but later, in 1949, I orchestrated the piano part of the cycle. Here in short are the subjects of the monologues; Everyman, the rich young man, in many respects avaricious, was met by Death at a banquet. All his relatives, friends and his mistress refused to accompany him on that great journey and they deserted him.

He is alone in a big, empty room and knows that he is condemned although the blood flowing in his veins is still warm. He orders the bells to ring the alarm and commands his servants to follow him carrying his large chest full of treasure.
He expresses his terror of death. But the realization that his wealth has always got him out of trouble reassures him. Then suddenly he remembers the vision of heaven’s messenger and throws himself onto his treasure beseeching it to accompany him to his new abode.
A faint voice calls him saying: his acts of charity have been too miserable to earn his salvation. Everyman believes it is his mother’s voice. He is filled with immense compassion and prays to Heaven that the old woman will be spared the knowledge of his fate.
He is filled with deep despair; but it is not just fear of death. He is seized by remorse; he wanted to start a new life, but it is too late. “You cannot live twice here.”
He affirms his faith: Christ died to redeem us. But his sins are so great that God cannot possibly give him grace.
The last monologue is a prayer. He has understood that his faith and repentance have earned him forgiveness and he gives himself up to divine grace.

These six monologues therefore represent a kind of short summary of the entire play, including the operatic aspect. Of course it misses all dramatic justification and logic of the psychological and spiritual evolution of Everyman’s spirit since death summoned him. All that remains are a few characteristics moments, some awareness that made me want to try to express this in my own way through the medium of music.

Premiere

World premiere version for baritone and piano: Gstaad, 5 August 1944. Max Christmann, baritone. Frank Martin, piano
World premiere version for baritone and orchestra: Venice, 9 September 1949. Elsa Cavelti, alto; Rafael Kubelík, conductor

Recordings (selective list)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass-baritone
    Hendrik Heilmann, piano
    MDG 908 2231-6 SACD ℗ + © 2022

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
    Berliner Philharmoniker
    Frank Martin, conductor
    DG 429 858-2 ℗ 1963 (FMS109)
    Brilliant Classics 9206 ℗ 1990 + © 2010 (FMS 208)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    ‘Frank Martin interprète Frank Martin’
    Heinz Rehfuss, baritone
    Frank Martin, piano
    Jecklin-Disco JD 563-2 ℗ + © 1989 (FMS032)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    José van Dam, bariton
    Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon
    Kent Nagano, conductor
    EMI 50999 2 64344 2 1 ℗ + © 2009
    (recorded 31.X-3.XI.1990, Auditorium Maurice Ravel, Lyon) (FMS011)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Thomas Oliemans, baritone
    Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
    Steven Sloane, conductor
    MDG 901 1614-6 ℗ + © 2010 (FMS046)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    David Wilson-Johnson, baritone
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Matthias Bamert, conductor
    CHANDOS CHAN 9411 ℗ + © 1995 (FMS117)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Theo Adam, baritone
    Dresdner Philharmonie
    Herbert Kegel, conductor
    Berlin Classics 0091682BC ℗ 1989 + © 1996 (FMS050)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    ‘Mélodies du XXe siècle’
    Pierre-Yves Pruvot, baritone
    Charles Bouisset, piano
    Lien-Création / MAVEL . MAV98-CD03 ℗ 1998 (FMS087)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Martin Egel, baritone
    Münchner Bachsolisten
    Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle, conductor
    FSM FCD 97 213 EB ℗ 1986 + © 1991 (FMS095)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    ‘The Age of Gold’
    Peter Pears, tenor
    Benjamin Britten, piano
    Live recording 09-01-1948 BBC
    Pavilion Records - Pearl GEM 0227 ℗ 2005 (FMS134)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    Christian Gerhaher, baritone
    Gerold Huber, piano
    ARTE NOVA 74321 92771 2 © + ℗ 2002 (FMS153)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    André Schuen, baritone
    Daniel Heide, piano
    Avi-Service for music, Cologne/Germany ℗ + © 2015

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    José van Dam, baritone
    Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
    Kent Nagano, conductor
    Virgin Classics VC 07777 59236 2 9 ℗ + © 1992 (FMS207)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
    ORF-Symphonieorchester
    Hans Zender, conductor
    ORFEO C 336931 B ℗ + © 1993 (FMS163)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Gilles Cachemaille, baritone
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Armin Jordan, conductor
    ERATO 2292-45649-2 ℗ 1991 (FMS165)

  • Version for baritone & orchestra
    Michel Brodard, baritone
    Stadtorchester Winterthur
    Konstantin Keiser, conductor
    SCWI ℗ 1997 (FMS172)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    Volker Arendts, baritone
    Miroslav Kroupa, piano
    CANTATE C 58013 ℗ + © 2000 (FMS180)

  • Version for baritone & piano
    Theo Adam, baritone
    Rudolf Dunckel, piano
    Ars Vivendi 2100115 ℗ 1989 (FMS193)

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