11. CARPATHIANS IV: TRANSYLVANIAN SAXONS

The Transylvanian Saxons (we’ll call them Saxons for short from here on) are an isolated Germanic people. Their exact place of origin has long been a subject of debate among historians. One of the more romantic notions is that they are descended from children led away from Hamlin by the Pied Piper! Today, it’s generally thought that they began as an off-shoot of the medieval Franks of Luxembourg. This conclusion is drawn from linguistic evidence and documents suggesting that Hungarian kings had recruited some of these Franks to help settle Transylvania. The Saxons appeared there in large numbers in the twelfth century. They formed a military class, or caste, building castles and defending the Hungarian ruling class. In return they were granted land. The Saxons were isolated from the rest of the Teutonic world. This made them insular and protective of folk customs. Their music shows little outside influence. The use of minor keys, so typical of East European music in general, is mainly absent. The themes employed in this etude are taken from a children’s song and a song about emigrating to America.