Gassenhauer - Part 1

The Gassenhauer is probably the best known and most popular piece from the Orff-Schulwerk. It is based on a short, catchy lute composition by the Renaissance composer and lutenist Hans Newsidler, not much more than a rhythmically moving D major cadenza in three-four time. Orff and Keetman transposed the piece into C major and used it to develop a series of variations for Orff instruments. The harmonic-melodic scheme of Newsidler is retained throughout, and the triad tones are only joined by a few passing notes in the last two of the seven variations. The variations derive their tension from a rousing dynamic and tonal increase. Starting from the middle register, more and more octaves come into play, the chords become more full-bodied and new instruments are added. The piece gained great popularity when it was first used in 1973 in the soundtrack of Terrence Malick’s film Badlands, and 20 years later in Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance.