The secret of Kling, Glöckchen: Who is the real composer?

The secret of Kling, Glöckchen: Who is the real composer?

Frankfurt (Oder), Deutschland - "Kling, bell, bell ringing" - hardly any other song embodies the festive Christmas mood so impressively. During the first snowflakes and the sparkle of the lights in the windows, this song awakens the anticipation for Christmas. But who is the real creator of this melody that makes so many hearts beat faster? The Black Forest composer Benedikt Widmann is often associated with the composition, but this is overshadowed by various traditions and misunderstandings. As Insidebw was born in 1820 and his interpretation of the song is often mistakenly regarded as the origin.

The melody, originally by Wilhelm Speyer, has been adapted several times and is now found in countless children's and Christmas cargo collections. The irritation about the real composer of the melody is so great that a publication from 1865 incorrectly mentioned Widmann as the origin. In general, the melody is demonstrated much earlier, at the latest from 1873, but there are no concrete evidence of creation in 1884. Liederkiste provides some original texts that show how the song has been able to sound over the years.

a song that connects generations

"Kling, bell, bell ringing" is not just about Christmas - it strengthens the connection between generations and cultures. The text, written by Karl Enslin, who was published in 1854, heralds the Christmas mood together with the melody and has proven to be timeless. Generations of children sang the song while waiting for the Christ child and the connection to the traditional values of Christmas never lost.