I was born in Germany while my father was studying and working there between 1954 to 1966. My older sister was also born in Germany.
Probably in December 1964 my father recorded me and my sister singing the traditional song “O Tannenbaum”.
My mother’s voice is there also while she helps us through the text.
Later one I sing a short solo in my “southern German” I have completely lost today.
The text was composed by Ernst Anschütz, 1824
Jólin 1964
Hér er á ferðinni upptaka sem fannst eftir að faðir minn dó. Er þetta upptaka frá Þýskalandi þar sem fjölskyldan bjó meira og minna árin 1954-1966. Um tíma fékk faðir minn að láni upptökutæki sem hann notaði til að senda fréttir heim til Íslands. Það má því segja að hér sé Skype fortíðar á ferðinni en þá var óskaplega dýrt að hringja á milli landa. Það var því oftar en ekki gripið til þess ráðs að senda hljóðupptökur í pósti á milli landa. Mikið af þessum upptökum hafa glatast en hér er smá bútur líklega frá því í desember 1964 fremur en 1965.
Textinn við þetta lag var saminn af Ernst Anschütz, 1824. Lagið er gamalt þjóðlag.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur
zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich
was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft
zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Das soll dein Kleid
mich lehren.
Download mp3 file (192kbps / 2,2Mb)
Recorder: unknown open reel deck.
Transferred from Revox B77 MkII to Sound devices 744
Mic. Unkown
Pics: Syster and brother (Bergþóra & Magnús, picture taken at Christmas 1964)
HLJÓÐMYND - SOUNDIMAGE 
Hi Magnus, You managed to achieve a good tape transfer. I just hope the digital file lasts as long as the analogue tape recording did!
Have a good Christmas.
Lawrence
Interesting point Lawrence. I am somehow not sure about that storage on hard drives will last longer. Such data can easily be lost forever. To be almost safe is it necessary to have three copies and store it in different locations. It’s probably safest to store data on the internet. But when it is reaching 4 Terabits, as in my case, online storage is no longer an option…too expensive.
The quality of these old recordings is really amazing.
The only problem is a “hum” in some recordings, mainly (I think) because ground connection was not common in this days.
I wish Marry Christmas and a happy new year.
So nice!!
I love to record my young children singing as well. Maybe, they’ll find it interesting in the future like you do 😉
Thanks. Apenino
In my case this recordings are very valuable. I don’t know if it is just because I like this media so much, but I think this recordings give me stronger feelings than if my father have use a film camera. Some of these recordings are so clear I almost get flashback of memories when I hear my grandparent’s voice, but they died about 40 years ago.
Honestly, now I record family meetings and many other things in our daily life, sometimes with hidden microphones. Not to listen, but just in hope they will last for future generations, like for my son. Maybe they will be as valuable for him as my father’s recordings are for me.
Our noses and our ears can bring us more powerful memories even than our eyes. I’m sure of that.
How lucky to have recordings such as these from your childhood. I agree with Apenino that listening to this would take you back in time far more than any visual image. It’s great that you are trying to do the same for your own children.