In 1938, inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale taken from their “Kinder- und Hausmärchen” volume (“Book of Children’s and Home Tales”) Carl Orff composed the stage-work “Der Mond.” The story and plot have to do with the nature myth regarding the waxing and waning of the moon. It seems that when the world was created there was not sufficient night light for all parts of the Earth and a portion of the land lay in the dark. In order to relieve the darkness, four village louts left their home town and swiped the “moon” that was hanging from an oak tree in another village and brought it back home.
Eventually, these four characters, having blown their respective fortunes, all are about to die and are on the threshold of the grave. Their only possession is now the moon on the oak which they have tended their entire lives. Each wants a portion of the moonshine to illuminate his grave. And each gets his wish. In the grave the moon light awakens the dead bringing them back to life in the celestial room. The lads and all the rest of the inhabitants celebrate their new circumstances uproariously. It is only Peter who is responsible for maintaining order in Heaven who is able to get them to calm down. By replacing the moon in its proper setting in the heavens, Peter thus restores peace and quiet to the kingdoms of the living and of the dead and Cosmic equilibrium is regained.
New CD
During the ORFF IN ANDECHS 2001 summer festival, a live recording of Orff’s DER MOND (The Moon) was made in the “Florian Stadl” of Andechs monastery, home to the Carl Orff Festival. This is the first live recording made in the authentic surroundings of the monastery, where Carl Orff lies buried in the church.
DER MOND
Ein kleines Welttheater by Carl Orff
How to order:
Carl Orff Live – CD edition, Vol. 1, DER MOND; live recording 2001
Orders for the CD can be placed either with the
- Klosterladen (the Andechs monastery shop) or the
