Edelweiss is a lovely Song that is full of Austrian patriotism. Many people think it’s an Austrian folk song, or even the country’s national anthem. However, that’s not true. It was actually written by Oscar Hammerstein II for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music that came out in 1959.

Song Meaning

Edelweiss is a white flower found in the alps. It is also featured on the Austrian 1 schilling coin. It is also worn on the uniforms of some Austrian military members and government workers.

In the Sound of Music, it is sung by Captain Von Trapp and his family to symbolize the pressure put upon him to join the Nazi army. It is also a subliminal goodbye to his homeland. The flower symbolizes his loyalty to the country in light of the Nazi rule that was taking over.

In the song, the flower is the symbol of the Austria the family knew would live on in their hearts despite the Nazi annexation in their country. It also builds on an earlier scene where one of the children, Gretl, presents a bouquet of edelweiss to Baroness Elsa Schrader.

Criticism

The Sound of Music and the Edelweiss song was meant by much criticism among the Austrian people. Many complained that it was cliché and boring and an insult to Austrian music creation.

However, attitudes changed as the musical generated tourist income for the community. When it was shown in Salzburg in 2011, all performances sold out. It also drew attention to Salzburg as the birthplace of Mozart.

Misconceptions Regarding the Song

There are many misconceptions regarding the song Edelweiss. For example, many people believe it is the Austrian national anthem.

However, the official Austrian national anthem is ‘Lad der Berge, Land am Strome’. “Sei Gesegnet ohne Ende” was briefly used between 1929 and 1938 when Austria was annexed into the Third Reich.

Interestingly enough, Edelweiss is not the only song Hammerstein wrote that was confused with a cultural song. “Ol’ Man River” from the musical ‘Showboat’ was thought to be an African spiritual, although this was not the case. This speaks to Hammerstein’s talents and his ability to “simulate the quality of an authentic folk song”.

Some also believe that Edelweiss glorified the Nazis. However, its context in the Sound of Music makes it clear that it was not a pro-Nazi song. In fact, it did not even exist during the Nazi era.

Edelweiss might sound like an Austrian folk song, but it’s actually a Hollywood-created tune written for the musical The Sound of Music. However, it’s meaning rings true for many.

What are your thoughts on the song?

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