Music and the Fictive Dream
"Edelweiss"
from the musical The Sound of Music (1959)
Lyrics by: Oscar Hammerstein II
When you think of The Sound of Music, you probably picture yodeling, singing nuns, and curtain clothes, but there is real power behind this 1965 Disney film. “Edelweiss.” It’s not just a beautiful tune, but it's a bold statement of a families defiance against the rise of fascism.
History
The song "Edelweiss" was created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and was written for the 1959 Broadway musical, but became iconic through the 1965 Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The story is based on the real Vonn Trapp Family Singers, an Austrian family who fled their homeland after the Anschluss. Captain Georg von Trapp is a strict, recently widowed, former naval officer who has banned music from his home after the death of his wife. He treats his seven children like a ship's crew, using a whistle instead of words. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote "Edelweiss" because the Captain needed a gentle tune that expressed his love for his country and to acknowledge the warmth buried deep in his heart.
"Edelweiss" represents Captain von Trapp’s emotional transformation. When he first sings it, he sings to his children. It's also the first time he's sang since his wife's death, thanks to Maria.
However, his second time singing it during the Salzburg Festival is far more critical. With the Nazi annexation of Austria complete, Captain von Trapp is under immense pressure to be commissioned to Hitler's Navy. He steps onto the stage not just as a performer, but as someone taking a stand. This rendition of "Edelweiss" is a farewell to an independent Austria and an act of resistance against the Nazi officials watching from the audience.
Musical Analyses
Lyrics: Hammerstein uses the tiny but tough edelweiss flower as a metaphor for Austria's spirit. “Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow, Bloom and grow forever, Edelweiss, bless my homeland forever,” uses the flower as a call for resilience, a statement that true Austria will live on in the hearts of its people.
Timbre: Captain von Trapp begins with a controlled baritone, almost military-like. But fleeing his home overwhelms him and his voice literally breaks, becoming soft and choked with tears. This shift in timbre communicates his passion and grief.
Dynamics: The song starts quiet and personal, in a mezzo-piano moment. The song grows louder as Maria, the children, and finally the entire auditorium join in. The transition from a single voice to a loud collective chorus adds to the musical drama. It’s the sound patriotic resistance.
Social Commentary
Rodgers and Hammerstein cleverly created an anti-authoritarian anthem that sidesteps overt political messaging. Instead of attacking the Nazis directly, the song simply captures the beauty and enduring spirit of the victim, Austria.
This film resonates deeply with post-war audiences and frames the moral conflict of the Nazi era through relatable themes of family, faith, and cultural loyalty. Captain von Trapp's musical act of refusing to celebrate the new regime is a non-violent political statement that represented a real struggle for national and personal freedom.
Personal Takeaway
For me, this song has always carried nostalgia, as I grew up watching year after year. It's a true comfort movie. "Edelweiss" remind me that these acts of loyalty, expressed through something as simple as a song, can carry the loudest resonance.
Works Cited
Hi! Thank you for this lovely blog post, and sharing this beautiful song with us! I have to be honest... as a theater kid, this hurts... but I've never seen The Sound of Music before. I have heard Edelweiss once or twice, but listening to it with the context of what happens in the musical makes it much more impactful. It's like a calming lullaby, but so much more important. And I really felt my heart clench when everyone started singing along in the second video. This seems like a song that gets power from being sung together, like a national anthem almost, but much calmer. What I get from it is that together, as a united people, our spirit can be unbreakable. Even though I haven't seen the musical, I don't think I'll be forgetting this song anytime soon. Thank you for covering it!
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