Glossary
*In order of appearance in the script, page numbers refer to the libretto. Name pronunciation recordings and transcriptions and images can be found at the bottom of the page.
Wendla (1) - The closest entry I could find was for the name "Wenda." It is "English: apparently an altered form of Wendy, since it does not appear in modern use until the vogue for that name. In the early Middle Ages, however, a name of identical form was in occasional use on the Continent as a short form of various female names (such as Wendelburg and Wendelgard) containing as their first element the ethnic name of the Wends (cf. Wendel). St. Wendel was a 6th- or 7th-cenutry shepherd and confessor" (Dictionary of First 337). According to parenting.com, Wendla means "wanderer."
Bethlehem (1) - The city were Jesus was born. Hebrew for "house of bread."
Candle (1) - "The 'candle' here alludes to the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. The maidens await the coming of the heavenly bridegroom, but some have neglected to take oil for their lamps. And so they must go refill them, and are no longer home when he finally comes to call." From: A Purple Summer: Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening by Steven Sater
Frau (1) - Frau is the proper way to address a married woman. It is the equivalent of Mrs.
Bergman (1) - "German variation of Berg. A topographic name for someone who lived on or by a hill or mountain" (Dictionary of Surnames 46).
Virgil’s Aeneid (5) - Virgil was a Roman poet who lived from 70 BC to 19 BC. He wrote The Aeneid, an epic poem about the story of Aeneas, which is considered the national epic of Ancient Rome. Aeneas was a Trojan who travelled to Italy and after a long war became the ancestor of the Romans. For a translation of the text contained in the script, see the document "Virgil's Aeneid Translation" found at the bottom of the page. For the full text of The Aeneid, see http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/virgil/aen/index.htm. To hear the text read aloud in Latin, click here. Here are consonant pronunciations and vowel pronunciations. Also, here is a phonetic breakdown:
Arm-uh weer-um-kway kah-no, Troy-eye kwee pree-moos ahb or-iss
It-ahl-ee-um, fah-toe pro-few-goos, Luh-win-ee-ah-kway weh-nitt
lit-ora-uh, mul-toom eel-ett tehr-ees yawk-tawk-toos ett-al-to
wee soo-peh-room sigh-why mem-or-em Yoo-no-niss ob eer-um;
mool-tuh kwoe-quett bello pah-soos, doom con-duh-rett uhr-bem,
in-ferret-kway day-ohs Lah-tee-oh
Herr (5) - Herr is the proper way to address a man. It is the equivalent of Mr.
Sonnenstich (5) – Translates to “sunstroke" or "heatstroke" in English.
Otto (5) - "German: originally a short form of the various Germanic compound personal names containing the element od, ot prosperity, fortune, riches" (Dictionary of First 259).
Lammermeier (5) - The meaning of the name is unclear, but lammer translates to "paralyzes."
Zirschnitz (5) - The meaning of the name is unknown.
Georg (5) - "m. English: from Old French, from Latin Georgius, from Greek Georgios. This was the name of several early saints, including the shadowy figure who is now the patron of England (as well as of Germany and Poland). The impulse for its popularity was the accession of the first king of England of this name, who came from Germany in 1714 and brought many German retainers with him. It has been one of the most popular English male names every since" (Dictionary of First 131). "It comes from Greek, meaning 'farmer' or 'worker of the earth'" (Friedman 72).
Rilow (5) - The meaning of the name is unknown.
Hanschen (5) - Hanschen means 'The Lord is gracious' according to http://www.babynology.com/meaning-hanschen-m24.html. Hanschen is a diminutive form of Hans, like what one would call a child.
Robel (5) - Robel means 'prince' according to http://www.madote.com/2010/09/eritrean-names-and-their-meaning.html.
Ernst (5) - "English: of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German vocabulary word eornost seriousness, battle (to the death)" (Dictionary of First 107). "Germanic, signifiying 'the intent, sincere, or earnest one" (Friedman 65).
Stiefel (5) - "German and Jewish: metonymic occupational name for a maker of boots or nickname for someone who wore boots" (Dictionary of Surnames 512).
Moritz (5) - "m. German and Jewish form of Maurice. Maurice derives from the Latin Mauricius, a derivative of Maurus. In Germany, the name was established as a traditional name among the dukes of Saxony in the 16th-century" (First 231).
Melchior (6) - "m. Italian: from the name assigned by medieval tradition to one of the three Magi. It is said to be of Persian origin, composed of the elements melk king + quart city" (First 233).
Gabor (6) - Gabor is a form of the name Gabriel. "Biblical: name (meaning 'man of God' in Hebrew) of one of the archangels" (Dictionary of First 127). Gabor in German translates to "to birth."
Pious Aeneas (6) - Aeneas gains the "Pious" because he obeys his sense of duty rather than giving into his personal desires. When forced to choose between love and duty, Aeneas chooses duty.
Servius, Aulus Gellius, and Claudius Donatus (7) – These three men were Latin Grammarians who wrote critiques about Virgil’s Aeneid; they each had an influence on Latin education and therefore, the grammar of Europe and beyond.
Virgil's Death (7) - Virgil died on September 21, 19 B.C.
Teacher’s Cane (7) – “Teachers had the 'right to apply corporal punishment' and were thus permitted to use beatings and similar measures to discipline their students. Corporal punishment was particularly pervasive in rural areas, which were less likely to be open to pedagogical reforms.” See picture at the bottom of the page. Info from: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2347
Interretque deos Latio (9) - Next line of the Aeneid after the boys' repetitions end. Translates to "his banished gods."
Phantasm (9)- A figment of the imagination; an illusion or apparition.
Fraulein (10) - Fraulein referred to an unmarried woman, the equivalent of Miss. There was no form of Ms.
Grossebustenhalter (10) – Translates to “big bra” in English.
Homer (13) – A famous Greek poet who wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Achilles and Patroclus (13) – These two men were heroes of the Trojan War from Homer’s The Iliad. There is debate as to whether the two were close friends or had a homosexual relationship.
Bach (13) – Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer from the Baroque Period.
Knochenbruch (14) – Translates to “bone fracture” in English.
Knuppeldick (14) – Translates to “very thick” in English.
Neurasthenic imbecile (15) – Neurasthenia is a psychological disorder marked especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feelings of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms and an imbecile is an idiot or fool.
Thea (16) - "Short form of Dorothea. English, German, and Dutch: Latinate form of a post-classical Greek name composed of the elements doron gift + theos god" (Dictionary of First 89 and 317).
Martha (16) - "New Testament name, of Aramaic rather than Hebrew origin, meaning 'lady'. It was borne by the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany (John 11:1). The name Martha has always been associated with hard domestic work, as opposed to the contemplative life" (Dictionary of First 227).
Anna (16) - "From the Hebrew Hannah or Chanah, 'grace'" (Friedman 31).
Orchids and chrysanthemums (16) - Orchids bloom nearly all year long, while chrysanthemums bloom in the fall. See the bottom of the page for pictures.
Snow blind (18) – Snow blind could be referring to one of two things, either temporary visual impairment due to reflections of sunlight from fallen snow or a person whose cocaine habit (or obsessive crush) has left them incompetent, or has left them incapable of dwelling on anything other than their next fix.
Bach's Prelude in C Minor (18) - Listen here.
Correggio’s Io (18) – Correggio was a painter during the Italian Renaissance; he was known for sensuous works. The Io belongs to a series of paintings, The Loves of Jupiter, and was finished in 1531. Io was one of Jupiter's many loves, however she was human. For analysis of the painting, see here. See bottom of the page for an image of the painting.
Have you prayed tonight, Desdemona? (18) – This line is from Act V, Scene ii of Shakespeare’s Othello, the scene in which Othello murders Desdemona.
Repetez, s'il vous plait (20) - French for Repeat, please.
Kaulbach (21) - The exact meaning of Kaulbach is uncertain, but three German painters from the nineteenth-century share the last name.
Labia Majora (22) - See the bottom of the page for a page from the 1858 anatomy text, Gray's Anatomy.
Christ in Gethsemane (22) – Gethsemane is the garden in the New Testament where Christ prayed through the night before being taken by Roman soldiers. Christ endured a night of suffering in the garden. It is located east of Jerusalem near the foot of the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:32-42 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Consumption (22) – Consumption is another name for tuberculosis. Symptoms of the disease include coughing (sometimes coughing up blood), fever, and weight loss.
Goethe’s Faust (22) – Faust is a poem written in two parts. It is based on a legend about a man who sold his soul to the Devil. In Goethe’s story, Faust is a bored scholar who first tries to kill himself and then strikes a deal with the Devil in which the Devil’s magical servant, Mephistopheles will serve Faust for a time; at the end of this time period the Devil gets Faust’s soul. With Mephistopheles assistance, Faust seduces the innocent Gretchen and impregnates her with an illegitimate child. Eventually Gretchen and her child are destroyed by Faust. Luckily, Gretchen’s innocence allows her to go to Heaven. Faust also makes it to Heaven thanks to Gretchen’s pleading and his own drive for knowledge and understanding.
For the full text of Faust, go to: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14591
Where the figs lie (24) – Where the figs lie refers to genitalia and breasts. In the Bible, Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves after they ate the apple and discovered they were naked.
Tree-Nymph (28) – A tree-nymph comes from Greek mythology. They are divine spirits who are closely connected with nature and are known for being free with love.
May Wine (28) – May wine is a traditional beverage from Germany made my infusing white wine with woodruff (28), which is a perennial plant that blooms in May. The wine is usually made in May and June.
Pas de deux (30) - A "step of two" dance duet.
Near-aphasic (33) - Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write.
Ilse (36) - "Short form of Elizabeth. The name means 'God is my oath'" (Dictionary of First 162).
Bessell (37) - "English or Welsh: of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Bissell. The name apparently occurs in the place-name Bessels Leigh, in Berks., the mano of which was held by Petrus Besyles in 1412 (Dictionary of Surnames 49).
Neumann (38) - "English: nickname for a newcomer to a place" (Dictionary of Surnames 387).
Parentocracy (40) - A system in which a child’s education must conform the wishes of the parents rather than the abilities and efforts of the students.
Missionary Society (46) - A local, denominational, or interdenominational religious organization dedicated to the support of Christian missionary work. They often published pamphlets about religious issues.
Cost of getting to America (47) – During the 19th Century, there was a large influx of Germans immigrating to America. In fact, between 1830 and 1890, Germans made up at least a quarter of all immigrants entering the United States each year. The cost of steamship fare through the General TransAtlantic Company ranged from $25 to $100, which would cost between $638 and $2,555 today.
Leopold Habebald (48) – Leopold Habebald does not seem to exist.
Fanny (49) - Fanny is a diminutive form of Frances, which is the female form of Francis and means "frenchman."
Blue Angel (50) - Most likely in reference to Moritz's angel in blue stockings that haunts his dreams.
Christingle (51) – “The word Christingle means the Christ-light. The Christingle began in 1747, when a pastor of a church in Germany, John de Watteville, wanted to help his congregation understand about God’s love for the world. He invented the Christingle, and it became popular within Germany and soon other churches in other countries began to use it. Christingle services are held in churches, usually between Advent [the 4 weeks before Christmas] and Candlemas [February 2], and it involves creating symbols of the Christian message from oranges. The Christingle orange represents the world; the red ribbon of the Christingle represents the blood of Jesus. The fruits and sweets on the four skewers represent God's gifts, the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. And lastly, the lighted candle, pushed into the center of the orange, represents Christ, the light of the world.”
Info and picture from: http://springawakeningmusical.wikispaces.com/Glossary
Martin Luther (57) - Martin Luther, the sixteenth-century leader of the Protestant Reformation, was a German monk who began to preach against the Catholic Church’s doctrines and practices, especially the legitimacy of indulgences, the Mass as a representation of Christ’s sacrifice, and vows of celibacy required for priests.
Priapia - The Artists’ colony (61) – Artists’ colonies began late in the nineteenth century, when German artists yearned for fresh air and natural light to inspire their creativity. While Priapia was not an actually colony, there were several artists’ colonies throughout the German countryside.
Johan Fehrendorf and Gusrav Baum (61) – These men did not exist, but in the world of the musical they are painters from the Artists' colony.
Ether (61) - A liquid that burns easily, that is used to turn solid substances into liquid, and that was used in medicine in the past to prevent patients from feeling pain during operations.
Tomahawk (62) - A tomahawk is a light ax used as a tool or weapon by American Indians. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Wigwam (62) - A wigwam is a dome-shaped hut or tent made by fastening mats, skins, or bark over a framework of poles, used by some North American Indian peoples. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Hapsburgs (63) – The Hapsburgs were the royal family of the Holy Roman Empire, which Germany was a part of before the HRE dissolved and Germany gained independence.
Von Brausepulver (74) - Brausepulver translates to "sherbet" in English.
Pyrmont (74) – Pyrmont likely refers to Bad Pyrmont, which is a spa resort in Germany that was a fashionable place to vacation to. It was also a place where pregnant girls could go to have their babies without anyone else finding out.
C'est tout (74) - French for "That's it."
Anemia (74) – Anemia is a medical condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells. One of the possible causes of anemia is pregnancy. Symptoms include: feeling weak, tired, and grumpy, headaches, and having trouble concentrating.
Hermann (77) - A German name meaning "solider."
Harvest moon (78) - The Harvest Moon is the full moon seen nearest to the autumnal equinox in September. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Dieter (80) - "German: from an old Germanic personal name composed of the elements peud people, race + hari, heri army, warrior" (Dictionary of First 84-5).
Rupert (80) - "English, Low German, and Dutch: Low German form of Robert, first brought to England by Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1618-92), a dashing military leader who came to help his uncle, Charles I, in the Civil War" (Dictionary of First 290). "Robert is composed of the nearly synonymous elements hrod fame + berht bright, famous" (Dictionary of First 283).
Reinhold (80) - "German form of Reynold. English: of Norman origin, derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ragin advice, decision + wald ruler" (Dictionary of First 279 - 80).
Circle jerk (80) – A circle jerk occurs when a group of males masturbate in front of each other, often in a competition to see who can ejaculate first or the furthest.
Ulbrecht (80) - Ulbrecht is a German name, meaning "wolf bright." From: http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Ulbrecht.html
Schmidt (82) - "German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from Middle High German smit, German Schmied ‘blacksmith’. The German surname is found in many other parts of Europe, from Slovenia to Sweden." From: http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=schmidt
Gartenstrasse (82) - German for "garden road."
*For notes on Steven Sater's intentions and inspirations for the lyrics, see A Purple Summer: Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening*
Wendla (1) - The closest entry I could find was for the name "Wenda." It is "English: apparently an altered form of Wendy, since it does not appear in modern use until the vogue for that name. In the early Middle Ages, however, a name of identical form was in occasional use on the Continent as a short form of various female names (such as Wendelburg and Wendelgard) containing as their first element the ethnic name of the Wends (cf. Wendel). St. Wendel was a 6th- or 7th-cenutry shepherd and confessor" (Dictionary of First 337). According to parenting.com, Wendla means "wanderer."
Bethlehem (1) - The city were Jesus was born. Hebrew for "house of bread."
Candle (1) - "The 'candle' here alludes to the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. The maidens await the coming of the heavenly bridegroom, but some have neglected to take oil for their lamps. And so they must go refill them, and are no longer home when he finally comes to call." From: A Purple Summer: Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening by Steven Sater
Frau (1) - Frau is the proper way to address a married woman. It is the equivalent of Mrs.
Bergman (1) - "German variation of Berg. A topographic name for someone who lived on or by a hill or mountain" (Dictionary of Surnames 46).
Virgil’s Aeneid (5) - Virgil was a Roman poet who lived from 70 BC to 19 BC. He wrote The Aeneid, an epic poem about the story of Aeneas, which is considered the national epic of Ancient Rome. Aeneas was a Trojan who travelled to Italy and after a long war became the ancestor of the Romans. For a translation of the text contained in the script, see the document "Virgil's Aeneid Translation" found at the bottom of the page. For the full text of The Aeneid, see http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/virgil/aen/index.htm. To hear the text read aloud in Latin, click here. Here are consonant pronunciations and vowel pronunciations. Also, here is a phonetic breakdown:
Arm-uh weer-um-kway kah-no, Troy-eye kwee pree-moos ahb or-iss
It-ahl-ee-um, fah-toe pro-few-goos, Luh-win-ee-ah-kway weh-nitt
lit-ora-uh, mul-toom eel-ett tehr-ees yawk-tawk-toos ett-al-to
wee soo-peh-room sigh-why mem-or-em Yoo-no-niss ob eer-um;
mool-tuh kwoe-quett bello pah-soos, doom con-duh-rett uhr-bem,
in-ferret-kway day-ohs Lah-tee-oh
Herr (5) - Herr is the proper way to address a man. It is the equivalent of Mr.
Sonnenstich (5) – Translates to “sunstroke" or "heatstroke" in English.
Otto (5) - "German: originally a short form of the various Germanic compound personal names containing the element od, ot prosperity, fortune, riches" (Dictionary of First 259).
Lammermeier (5) - The meaning of the name is unclear, but lammer translates to "paralyzes."
Zirschnitz (5) - The meaning of the name is unknown.
Georg (5) - "m. English: from Old French, from Latin Georgius, from Greek Georgios. This was the name of several early saints, including the shadowy figure who is now the patron of England (as well as of Germany and Poland). The impulse for its popularity was the accession of the first king of England of this name, who came from Germany in 1714 and brought many German retainers with him. It has been one of the most popular English male names every since" (Dictionary of First 131). "It comes from Greek, meaning 'farmer' or 'worker of the earth'" (Friedman 72).
Rilow (5) - The meaning of the name is unknown.
Hanschen (5) - Hanschen means 'The Lord is gracious' according to http://www.babynology.com/meaning-hanschen-m24.html. Hanschen is a diminutive form of Hans, like what one would call a child.
Robel (5) - Robel means 'prince' according to http://www.madote.com/2010/09/eritrean-names-and-their-meaning.html.
Ernst (5) - "English: of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German vocabulary word eornost seriousness, battle (to the death)" (Dictionary of First 107). "Germanic, signifiying 'the intent, sincere, or earnest one" (Friedman 65).
Stiefel (5) - "German and Jewish: metonymic occupational name for a maker of boots or nickname for someone who wore boots" (Dictionary of Surnames 512).
Moritz (5) - "m. German and Jewish form of Maurice. Maurice derives from the Latin Mauricius, a derivative of Maurus. In Germany, the name was established as a traditional name among the dukes of Saxony in the 16th-century" (First 231).
Melchior (6) - "m. Italian: from the name assigned by medieval tradition to one of the three Magi. It is said to be of Persian origin, composed of the elements melk king + quart city" (First 233).
Gabor (6) - Gabor is a form of the name Gabriel. "Biblical: name (meaning 'man of God' in Hebrew) of one of the archangels" (Dictionary of First 127). Gabor in German translates to "to birth."
Pious Aeneas (6) - Aeneas gains the "Pious" because he obeys his sense of duty rather than giving into his personal desires. When forced to choose between love and duty, Aeneas chooses duty.
Servius, Aulus Gellius, and Claudius Donatus (7) – These three men were Latin Grammarians who wrote critiques about Virgil’s Aeneid; they each had an influence on Latin education and therefore, the grammar of Europe and beyond.
Virgil's Death (7) - Virgil died on September 21, 19 B.C.
Teacher’s Cane (7) – “Teachers had the 'right to apply corporal punishment' and were thus permitted to use beatings and similar measures to discipline their students. Corporal punishment was particularly pervasive in rural areas, which were less likely to be open to pedagogical reforms.” See picture at the bottom of the page. Info from: http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2347
Interretque deos Latio (9) - Next line of the Aeneid after the boys' repetitions end. Translates to "his banished gods."
Phantasm (9)- A figment of the imagination; an illusion or apparition.
Fraulein (10) - Fraulein referred to an unmarried woman, the equivalent of Miss. There was no form of Ms.
Grossebustenhalter (10) – Translates to “big bra” in English.
Homer (13) – A famous Greek poet who wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Achilles and Patroclus (13) – These two men were heroes of the Trojan War from Homer’s The Iliad. There is debate as to whether the two were close friends or had a homosexual relationship.
Bach (13) – Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer from the Baroque Period.
Knochenbruch (14) – Translates to “bone fracture” in English.
Knuppeldick (14) – Translates to “very thick” in English.
Neurasthenic imbecile (15) – Neurasthenia is a psychological disorder marked especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feelings of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms and an imbecile is an idiot or fool.
Thea (16) - "Short form of Dorothea. English, German, and Dutch: Latinate form of a post-classical Greek name composed of the elements doron gift + theos god" (Dictionary of First 89 and 317).
Martha (16) - "New Testament name, of Aramaic rather than Hebrew origin, meaning 'lady'. It was borne by the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany (John 11:1). The name Martha has always been associated with hard domestic work, as opposed to the contemplative life" (Dictionary of First 227).
Anna (16) - "From the Hebrew Hannah or Chanah, 'grace'" (Friedman 31).
Orchids and chrysanthemums (16) - Orchids bloom nearly all year long, while chrysanthemums bloom in the fall. See the bottom of the page for pictures.
Snow blind (18) – Snow blind could be referring to one of two things, either temporary visual impairment due to reflections of sunlight from fallen snow or a person whose cocaine habit (or obsessive crush) has left them incompetent, or has left them incapable of dwelling on anything other than their next fix.
Bach's Prelude in C Minor (18) - Listen here.
Correggio’s Io (18) – Correggio was a painter during the Italian Renaissance; he was known for sensuous works. The Io belongs to a series of paintings, The Loves of Jupiter, and was finished in 1531. Io was one of Jupiter's many loves, however she was human. For analysis of the painting, see here. See bottom of the page for an image of the painting.
Have you prayed tonight, Desdemona? (18) – This line is from Act V, Scene ii of Shakespeare’s Othello, the scene in which Othello murders Desdemona.
Repetez, s'il vous plait (20) - French for Repeat, please.
Kaulbach (21) - The exact meaning of Kaulbach is uncertain, but three German painters from the nineteenth-century share the last name.
Labia Majora (22) - See the bottom of the page for a page from the 1858 anatomy text, Gray's Anatomy.
Christ in Gethsemane (22) – Gethsemane is the garden in the New Testament where Christ prayed through the night before being taken by Roman soldiers. Christ endured a night of suffering in the garden. It is located east of Jerusalem near the foot of the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:32-42 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Consumption (22) – Consumption is another name for tuberculosis. Symptoms of the disease include coughing (sometimes coughing up blood), fever, and weight loss.
Goethe’s Faust (22) – Faust is a poem written in two parts. It is based on a legend about a man who sold his soul to the Devil. In Goethe’s story, Faust is a bored scholar who first tries to kill himself and then strikes a deal with the Devil in which the Devil’s magical servant, Mephistopheles will serve Faust for a time; at the end of this time period the Devil gets Faust’s soul. With Mephistopheles assistance, Faust seduces the innocent Gretchen and impregnates her with an illegitimate child. Eventually Gretchen and her child are destroyed by Faust. Luckily, Gretchen’s innocence allows her to go to Heaven. Faust also makes it to Heaven thanks to Gretchen’s pleading and his own drive for knowledge and understanding.
For the full text of Faust, go to: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14591
Where the figs lie (24) – Where the figs lie refers to genitalia and breasts. In the Bible, Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves after they ate the apple and discovered they were naked.
Tree-Nymph (28) – A tree-nymph comes from Greek mythology. They are divine spirits who are closely connected with nature and are known for being free with love.
May Wine (28) – May wine is a traditional beverage from Germany made my infusing white wine with woodruff (28), which is a perennial plant that blooms in May. The wine is usually made in May and June.
Pas de deux (30) - A "step of two" dance duet.
Near-aphasic (33) - Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write.
Ilse (36) - "Short form of Elizabeth. The name means 'God is my oath'" (Dictionary of First 162).
Bessell (37) - "English or Welsh: of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Bissell. The name apparently occurs in the place-name Bessels Leigh, in Berks., the mano of which was held by Petrus Besyles in 1412 (Dictionary of Surnames 49).
Neumann (38) - "English: nickname for a newcomer to a place" (Dictionary of Surnames 387).
Parentocracy (40) - A system in which a child’s education must conform the wishes of the parents rather than the abilities and efforts of the students.
Missionary Society (46) - A local, denominational, or interdenominational religious organization dedicated to the support of Christian missionary work. They often published pamphlets about religious issues.
Cost of getting to America (47) – During the 19th Century, there was a large influx of Germans immigrating to America. In fact, between 1830 and 1890, Germans made up at least a quarter of all immigrants entering the United States each year. The cost of steamship fare through the General TransAtlantic Company ranged from $25 to $100, which would cost between $638 and $2,555 today.
Leopold Habebald (48) – Leopold Habebald does not seem to exist.
Fanny (49) - Fanny is a diminutive form of Frances, which is the female form of Francis and means "frenchman."
Blue Angel (50) - Most likely in reference to Moritz's angel in blue stockings that haunts his dreams.
Christingle (51) – “The word Christingle means the Christ-light. The Christingle began in 1747, when a pastor of a church in Germany, John de Watteville, wanted to help his congregation understand about God’s love for the world. He invented the Christingle, and it became popular within Germany and soon other churches in other countries began to use it. Christingle services are held in churches, usually between Advent [the 4 weeks before Christmas] and Candlemas [February 2], and it involves creating symbols of the Christian message from oranges. The Christingle orange represents the world; the red ribbon of the Christingle represents the blood of Jesus. The fruits and sweets on the four skewers represent God's gifts, the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. And lastly, the lighted candle, pushed into the center of the orange, represents Christ, the light of the world.”
Info and picture from: http://springawakeningmusical.wikispaces.com/Glossary
Martin Luther (57) - Martin Luther, the sixteenth-century leader of the Protestant Reformation, was a German monk who began to preach against the Catholic Church’s doctrines and practices, especially the legitimacy of indulgences, the Mass as a representation of Christ’s sacrifice, and vows of celibacy required for priests.
Priapia - The Artists’ colony (61) – Artists’ colonies began late in the nineteenth century, when German artists yearned for fresh air and natural light to inspire their creativity. While Priapia was not an actually colony, there were several artists’ colonies throughout the German countryside.
Johan Fehrendorf and Gusrav Baum (61) – These men did not exist, but in the world of the musical they are painters from the Artists' colony.
Ether (61) - A liquid that burns easily, that is used to turn solid substances into liquid, and that was used in medicine in the past to prevent patients from feeling pain during operations.
Tomahawk (62) - A tomahawk is a light ax used as a tool or weapon by American Indians. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Wigwam (62) - A wigwam is a dome-shaped hut or tent made by fastening mats, skins, or bark over a framework of poles, used by some North American Indian peoples. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Hapsburgs (63) – The Hapsburgs were the royal family of the Holy Roman Empire, which Germany was a part of before the HRE dissolved and Germany gained independence.
Von Brausepulver (74) - Brausepulver translates to "sherbet" in English.
Pyrmont (74) – Pyrmont likely refers to Bad Pyrmont, which is a spa resort in Germany that was a fashionable place to vacation to. It was also a place where pregnant girls could go to have their babies without anyone else finding out.
C'est tout (74) - French for "That's it."
Anemia (74) – Anemia is a medical condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells. One of the possible causes of anemia is pregnancy. Symptoms include: feeling weak, tired, and grumpy, headaches, and having trouble concentrating.
Hermann (77) - A German name meaning "solider."
Harvest moon (78) - The Harvest Moon is the full moon seen nearest to the autumnal equinox in September. See the bottom of the page for an image.
Dieter (80) - "German: from an old Germanic personal name composed of the elements peud people, race + hari, heri army, warrior" (Dictionary of First 84-5).
Rupert (80) - "English, Low German, and Dutch: Low German form of Robert, first brought to England by Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1618-92), a dashing military leader who came to help his uncle, Charles I, in the Civil War" (Dictionary of First 290). "Robert is composed of the nearly synonymous elements hrod fame + berht bright, famous" (Dictionary of First 283).
Reinhold (80) - "German form of Reynold. English: of Norman origin, derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ragin advice, decision + wald ruler" (Dictionary of First 279 - 80).
Circle jerk (80) – A circle jerk occurs when a group of males masturbate in front of each other, often in a competition to see who can ejaculate first or the furthest.
Ulbrecht (80) - Ulbrecht is a German name, meaning "wolf bright." From: http://www.ourbabynamer.com/meaning-of-Ulbrecht.html
Schmidt (82) - "German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from Middle High German smit, German Schmied ‘blacksmith’. The German surname is found in many other parts of Europe, from Slovenia to Sweden." From: http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=schmidt
Gartenstrasse (82) - German for "garden road."
*For notes on Steven Sater's intentions and inspirations for the lyrics, see A Purple Summer: Notes on the Lyrics of Spring Awakening*
Virgil's Aeneid Translation | |
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Name Pronunciations Transcription | |
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Name Pronunciation Recording | |
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