German Pronunciation Guide

by Norbert Meyn

Ludwig van Beethoven

9th Symphony /
Choral Fantasia

www.choraline.com
 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony / Choral Fantasia

Introduction
This ChoraLine pronunciation guide comes in three parts.
1 THE CHORALINE GUIDE TO SINGING IN GERMAN (Page 2)
with clear examples and symbols for vowel sounds, important consonants
Vocal Scores ChoraLine Singing Sets and inflection.
Rehearsal 2 A LIST OF SOUNDS AND SYMBOLS (Page 7)
CDs & MP3s
for reference and practice: using English word comparisons.
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3 THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE CHORAL WORKS

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• Choral Fantasia (Page 11)

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with a word-for-word translation, phonetic (IPA) symbols for difficult vowel

d meaning y
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edition of the vocal scor

sounds and consonants, and clearly marked stresses of important syllables

and words.
Singers’ Choral Music Choir Folders
Music Bags Performance The introduction, the list of sounds and symbols and the textbook work in
parallel with the ChoraLine Pronunciation CD, and we recommend using
CDs
them together for combined aural and visual learning. You can find the CD
trackmarks throughout the booklet.
Even if you do not speak any German, this guide will enable you to
pronounce the text correctly and with confidence. With the word for word
translation you can communicate the specific meaning of each word
through your singing. It will also help you to enunciate the important words
and syllables in each phrase, so that the audience can understand it clearly
and enjoy the many expressive colours of the language.

Important: this ChoraLine™ guide book is strictly Copyright Material and may not in
Norbert Meyn
any circumstances be copied for any purpose, disseminated electronically or be used
for public broadcast or performance without permission from the publishers.
If you have purchased the ChoraLine Pronunciation CD,
please play it now as you read on.
© ChoraLine™ 2011
PN001

1
 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony / Choral Fantasia

CD TRACK 1

1
The ChoraLine Guide to Singing THE WRITTEN VOWELS e AND i

in German The open and closed versions of these vowels are formed mainly by the
tongue, which gradually assumes a higher position in the mouth.
In singing we use the highest and purest form of the German IPA SYMBOL
Language, Hochsprache or Bühnensprache (stage-language). A colon after a vowel means it is pronounced long.
CD TRACK 2
open e Ɛ
VOWELS closed e e:
open i I
German has a greater variety of vowel sounds than many other languages.
closed i i:
All German vowel sounds have both open and closed variations.
THE WRITTEN VOWELS o AND u
OPEN VOWELS
Here the open and closed versions are formed mainly by the mouth and
Open vowels are usually short (when spoken), and mostly followed by two lips, which gradually close.
or more consonants.
IPA SYMBOL
Ɔ U
open o Ɔ
Gott Mutter
closed o o:
God mother
open u U
CLOSED VOWELS closed u u:

Closed vowels are usually long (when spoken). UMLAUTS ä, ö AND ü

o: u: Open or closed, they are formed with the same mouth shape as their
groß gut counterparts without the two dots, by raising the tongue inside the mouth.
great good IPA SYMBOL

In the ChoraLine pronunciation guide, open (or short) vowels are marked ä Ɛ (this is the same sound as the open e)
with capital letters and closed (or long) vowels are marked with lower case open ö œ
letters. closed ö ø:
For clarity it is very important that when singing, open and closed vowels open ü Y
are clearly differentiated. The only exception is the letter a, which can be closed ü y:
spoken short or long, but is always sung as a bright Italianate a.

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony / Choral Fantasia

CD TRACK 4 CD TRACK 6
THE SCHWA SOUND IMPORTANT CONSONANTS AND GROUPS OF CONSONANTS
This is a very neutral sound, which is used when the letter e occurs in an h This is always silent after a vowel, and the preceding vowel
unstressed position. An example would be the first syllable in the word is always long and closed, as in the word gehen (to go).
Geduld (patience) or the last syllable in the word Leben (life). In singing this ch 1 (ç) as in the word ich (I). This sound can be difficult. It is
sound is usually bright and never strongly projected. produced by touching the edges of your tongue against the
IPA SYMBOL
upper teeth at the sides of your mouth, and the tip of your
tongue touching the lower teeth at the front of your mouth.
e (schwa) as in Leben (life) ə The sound is then made quite high up in the mouth by
passing air over the tongue. It is similar to the first part of
THE SCHWA SOUND II the English word ‘huge’, but stronger and more projected.
This sometimes replaces the letter r, for example in the German word mehr ch 2 (x) ‘ch’ can also be pronounced in the throat as in the word
(more). This sound can also replace the ending -er, exactly as in the English Nacht (night). It is made by air friction quite low in the
word ‘better’, or in the last syllable of the German word Butter (butter). throat and is the same sound as that in the Scottish word
‘loch’.
IPA SYMBOL
chs (ks) If ‘ch’ is followed by an ‘s’, then it is pronounced as a ‘k’ –
-er, r (schwa II) as in Butter (butter) ɐ as in the word wachsen (to grow).
-ig (ç) When words end in -ig, this is pronounced ‘ich’ – as in the
DIPHTHONGS word for king – König.
Diphthongs are made up of two vowels. In singing the second vowel is only -iglich If the ‘-ig’ is followed by -lich the ‘g’ becomes a ‘k’ as in the
sounded at the very last moment. word königlich (royally).
ng (ŋ) This is always pronounced with a soft ‘g’ as in the English
CD TRACK 5
word ‘sing’, and not with a hard ‘g’ as in ‘finger’.
IPA SYMBOL nk is pronounced as in English ‘thank’, or in German, Dank.
ai as in Mai (May) ae qu is pronounced ‘kv’ as in the word for Quelle (source), not
au as in Traum (dream) ao ‘kw’ as in the Italian word ‘quella’.
eu as in heute (today) Ɔø s If the letter ‘s’ is followed by a vowel, then it is voiced like
an English ‘z’ as in the word Sonne (sun).
The second vowel is not as closed as the spelling suggests, and closes
st (ʃt) is mostly pronounced ‘sht’ as in the word Stille (silence).
only partly.
sp (ʃp) becomes ‘shp’ as in Spiel (a game).
sch (ʃ) is pronounced ‘sh’ as in schön (beautiful).
z is pronounced ‘ts’ as in Zimmer (a room).
v is generally pronounced ‘f’ as in Vogel (bird).
w is pronounced as the English ‘v’, as in the word Welle
(a wave) or Wasser (water).

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony / Choral Fantasia

CD TRACK 7 CD TRACK 9

2
Voiced consonants like b, d and g become de-voiced if at the end of a word
or before another consonant.
List of Sounds and Symbols
b becomes ‘p’ in gab (gave), for Reference and Practice
d becomes ‘t’ in und (and),
VOWELS
g becomes ‘k’ in Schlag (strike).
SPELLING IPA SYMBOL EX AMPLE ENGL. COMPARISON
r When singing, the letter ‘r’ is rolled with the tongue, and
quite strongly in expressive words like Rache (revenge). a a, a: Vater (father) -
But it may also be just flicked as in a word like kurz (short). ä, open e Ɛ Bett (bed) bed, better
When the letter ‘r’ occurs at the end of a word, it is often Träne (teardrop)
replaced by the neutral schwa sound as in the word der closed e e: Leben (life) eh?
(the), as described above – schwa sound II. open i I Bitte (please) it
CD TRACK 8 closed i i: Liebe (love) see
THE GLOTTAL STOP open o Ɔ Gott (God) cough
When singing in German the “glottal stop” is important, as it helps to closed o o: Rose (rose) -
achieve clarity. This means that words beginning with a vowel have to be open u U Mutter (mother) book
separated from the previous word with a re-articulation. closed u u: Ruhe (rest) two
Example: Am Abend (in the evening). open ö œ Göttin (Goddess) -
closed ö ø: schön (beautiful) -
In a glottal stop the vocal folds are closed for a moment and then opened
open ü Y Glück (happiness) -
again with a gentle explosion. In singing this should be quite smooth and
should hardly interrupt the line. closed ü y: süß (sweet) -
Remember: a colon after a symbol means the vowel is pronounced long.
INFLECTION CD TRACK 10
Schwa sounds I and II:
All German words have one stressed syllable, and this is often the first
syllable. When singing in German, inflection is the key to a beautiful line. e ə Geduld (patience) the
Unstressed syllables are projected less than in other languages, and this Leben (life)
results in a lilting line that moves from one stress to the next. r, -er ɐ mehr (more) better
Mutter (mother)
In the text of the ChoraLine pronunciation guide, we have underlined CD TRACK 11
stressed syllables and we have also underlined the important words in a DIPHTHONGS
phrase. This is because German is a very onomatopoeic language, and the
stressed syllables or words often carry the expression. This is especially ai, ei ae Mai (May) try
true in singing. au ao Traum (dream) house
eu, äu Ɔø heute (today) boy
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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony / Choral Fantasia

CD TRACK 12 r rolled strongly Räuber (robber)

IMPORTANT CONSONANTS flicked with tongue kurz (short)
SPELLING IPA SYMBOL EX AMPLE ENGL. COMPARISON replaced with schwa der (the)
ch ç ich (I) huge
CD TRACK 16
ch x Nacht (night) (Scottish) loch
GLOTTAL STOP (GENTLE RE-ARTICULATION):
chs ks wachsen axe
(to grow) Between words: am / Abend (in the evening)
-ig g becomes ç König (king) - Within a word: un/ausgeglichen (unbalanced)
-iglich g becomes k königlich (kingly) -
h gehen (to go) - INFLECTION (STRESSING UNDERLINED SYLLABLES):
j j ja (yes) - und kommen mit Freuden (and come with joy)
l (always forward) Himmel (heaven) love (not: all)

CD TRACK 13 Note about Word for Word Translations

VOICED CONSONANTS AT END OF WORDS
d becomes t und (and) - The syntax (word order) of English sentences differs considerably from
German. For this reason most singing translations or other available
b becomes p gab (gave) -
translations of poetic texts are not enough to identify the meaning of
g becomes k Schlag (strike/ hit) - individual words in a text.
FURTHER CONSONANTS
Word-for-word translations work around this problem, and they save you
ng ŋ Klang (sound) doing, (not: finger) having to look up many individual words in the dictionary. Most of the
nk ŋk Dank (thanks) thank time the meaning of a phrase is still obvious although the word order is
qu kv not kw Quelle (source) - unusual. If you cannot make sense of a line it is worth referring to a normal
translation as available on the Internet or in a CD booklet. You should be
CD TR ACK 14
s z Sonne (sun) zip able to piece together a coherent picture that way.
ansehen
(to look at) Knowing the exact meaning of individual words, which are often drawn out
and repeated in music, is important for singing with the right expression and
st ʃt Stille (silence) fish-tank
with confidence.
sp ʃp Spiel (game) fish-pond
sch ʃ schön (beautiful) ship
CD TRACK 15
z ts Zimmer (room) nets
v f Vogel (bird) fun
w v Wasser (water) vase

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony

3
The Complete Text of the
Choral Works
9th Symphony
CD TRACK 17
o: ƆØ Iç i: z ø:
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Oh friends, not these tones!
ZƆ st U n/g e: ʃtI
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen,
but let us more pleasant ones intone,
U t ƆØ fƆ
und freudenvollere.
and more joyful ones.

CD TRACK 18
ƆØ
Freude!
Joy!
ƆØ ʃ ø: œ ŋk
Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods
Ɔ x ao e: yziU
Tochter aus Elysium,
daughter from Elysium,
vi: e: ƆØ Uŋk
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
we enter, drunk with fire,
I I ʃ ae aeIç u:
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Heavenly one, your shrine!
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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony

CD TRACK 19 CD TRACK 21
ae tsao I vi: ja: ve: ao x u: ae ze:
Deine Zauber binden wieder Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Your magic binds again Yes, who even but one soul
va i: o: ʃt Ɛŋ ae zae Ɛ ao e: e: U t
was die Mode streng geteilt; sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
what the custom strictly divided; his (own) calls on the Earth (round)!
Ɛ ʃ ve: y: U t ve: i: Ɔ e: ʃte:
Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
all men become brothers And who (it) never could, he (should) steal (away)
vo: ae z y: vae vae t zIç ao i:z U t
wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. weinend sich aus diesem Bund!
where your soft wing dwells. crying himself from this brotherhood.

CD TRACK 20 CD TRACK 22
ve: e: o:s vU Uŋ ƆØ Iŋk ve:z
Wem der große Wurf gelungen, Freude trinken alle Wesen
Who (with) the great throw succeeded, Joy drink all beings
ae ƆØ ƆØ t tsu: zae e: Y e: u:
eines Freundes Freund zu sein; an den Brüsten der Natur;
a friend's friend to be, on the breasts of nature;
ve: e
a Ɔ e
va p Ɛ Uŋ u: øz
wer ein holdes Weib errungen, alle Guten, alle Bösen
who a lovey wife (has) won, all good, all evil
I ʃ zae ju: ae Ɔ i: o:z ʃpu:
mische seinen Jubel ein! folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
(shall) contribute his jubilation in. follow her rose-trail.

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | 9th Symphony

CD TRACK 23 CD TRACK 26
Y a:p zi: U U t e: Zaet U ʃ Uŋ I i:o:
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben, Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Kisses gave she us and grapes (wine) Be embraced, millions!
ae ƆØ t y: I o:t i:z Us e: ts vƐ
einen Freund, geprüft im Tod; Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
a friend, proven in death; This kiss to the whole world!
vƆ U v t e: vU e: y: y: ʃtƐ tsƐ
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben, Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
lust was to the worm given, Brothers, above the starry dome,
U t e: ke: Up ʃte: fo: Ɔ Us ae i: fa: o:
und der Cherub steht vor Gott. muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
and the cherub stands before God. must a loving father dwell.

CD TRACK 24 CD TRACK 27
o: vi: zae zƆ i: i: ʃtY tst i: I i:o:
Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Gladly, as his suns fly You fall down, millions?
U ç Ɛ I Ɛç a: a: u: e: ʃœ vƐ
durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan, Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
through the heaven’s magnificent plan, Sense (do) you the creator, world?
zu:x i: y: ʃtƐ tsƐ
CD TRACK 25 Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
ao y: ƆØ a: Seek him above the starry dome!
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn, y: ʃtƐ U e: vo:
walk, brothers, your path, Über Sternen muss er wohnen.
ƆØ Iç vi: ae Ɛ t tsU Zi: Above stars must he dwell.
freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.
joyfully, as a hero to victory.

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | Choral Fantasia

Choral Fantasia

CD TRACK 28 CD TRACK 30
ʃ ae ç t Ɔ t U t i:p Iç Iŋ vƐ e: o: tsao v
Schmeichelnd hold und lieblich klingen Wenn der Töne Zauber walten
Flattering, charming and lovely sound When the music’s magic(s) prevail
U z e: o: i:ə U t Ɛ vƆ vae ʃp Iç
unsers Lebens Harmonien, und des Wortes Weihe spricht,
our life’s harmonies, and the word’s solemnity speaks,
U t e: ʃ ø: z ʃ vIŋ U zIç Ɛ Iç ʃt
und dem Schönheitssinn entschwingen muss sich Herrliches gestalten,
and (from) the sense of beauty arise must (itself) something glorious create,
u: zIç i: e:vIç y: x U t ʃt Y ve: Iç
Blumen sich, die ewig blühn. Nacht und Stürme werden Licht.
flowers (themselves) which forever bloom. night and storms become light.
ƆØ u: I vƆ
CD TRACK 29 Äuss're Ruhe, inn're Wonne
i: t U t ƆØ ae ƆØ t Iç Outer peace, inner bliss
Fried und Freude gleiten freundlich Ɛ ʃ y: e: Yk Iç
Peace and joy glide friendly herrschen für den Glücklichen.
vi: e: vƐ vƐ k ʃpi: reign for the happy one.
wie der Wellen Wechselspiel.
like the waves’ changing play. CD TRACK 31
v zIç Ɛŋ ao U t ae t ç Ɔx e: Y y: i zƆ
Was sich drängte rauh und feindlich, Doch der Künste Frühlingssonne
What (itself) pushed rough and hostile But the art’s spring sun
Ɔ zIç tsu: o:x y: Ɛ ao ae Iç ʃte:
ordnet sich zu Hochgefühl. lässt aus beiden Licht entstehn.
orders itself to high feeling. let from both light emerge.

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 GERMAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE | NORBERT MEYN
Ludwig van Beethoven | Choral Fantasia

Note about IPA Phonetic Symbols:

CD TRACK 32 The symbols in this booklet conform with the book
Deutsche Aussprache (Hochsprache-Bühnensprache-Alltagssprache)
o:s I Ɛ ts Uŋ
VMA Wiesbaden 2000, ISBN 3-928127-66-7
Großes, das ins Herz gedrungen,
Greatness, which into (the) heart entered, Most dictionaries use similar symbols, but occasional variations are
y: ƆØ U t ʃ ø: Ɛ o: to be expected. This does not diminish the immense usefulness of the
blüht dann neu und schön empor. International Phonetic Alphabet. Once learned, these symbols can be
applied to any other language and are invaluable to the amateur or
blooms then new and beautifully upwards.
professional singer.
ae ae zIç ao ʃ v Uŋ
Hat ein Geist sich aufgeschwungen,
Has a spirit itself taken off, Acknowledgements
i: ʃt e: ae ae ko:
hallt ihm stets ein Geisterchor. This pronunciation guide has been devised by Norbert Meyn.
Resounds him always a choir of spirits. A professional singer, Norbert received training in his native Germany and
later at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He has many
CD TRACK 33 years of experience as a soloist and choral singer, and teaches German
e: Ɛ I i: ʃ ø ze: Lieder, opera and diction at both the Guildhall School and at the Royal
Nehmt denn hin, ihr schönen Seelen, College of Music. He also enjoys working as a language coach for the BBC
Singers and Symphony Chorus, as well as EMI, Deutsche Grammophon,
Accept then, you beautiful souls,
Harmonia Mundi and Hyperion record labels. For comments or coaching
o: i: a: ʃ ø U enquiries please write to norbertmeyn@mac.com.
froh die Gaben schöner Kunst.
happily the gifts (of) beautiful art.
vƐ zIç i: p U t fƐ Ɛ
Wenn sich Lieb und Kraft vermählen,
When (themselves) love and strength unite,
o: e: Ɛ ʃ œ U
lohnt den Menschen Göttergunst.
Rewards the people God’s favour.

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order discounted quotes for Vocal Scores, ChoraLine rehearsal CDs and
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 Music Dynamics Limited
Stroud House • Station Road
Stroud • Gloucestershire
GL5 3AP • England • UK
t 0845 304 5070
music@musicdynamics.co.uk
www.choraline.com

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