[Dada] Löhner-Beda, Fritz. (1883-1942) & Hajós, Karl. (1889-1950) & Ortmann, Wolfgang. (1885-1967)

"Dadaistische Fox-Trot" - Original Sheet Music

Berlin: Berliner Bohème-Verlag K. Brüll. 1920. Dada, dadaistischer Fox-trot für Trottel und Solche - die es noch werden Wollen. Worte von DaDa Beda. Musik von Ober-DaDa Hajós. ("Dada, dadaistic foxtrot for fools and those who want to become fools. Words by DaDa Beda. Music by Arch-DaDa Hajos.") An extremely rare song parodying the Dada movement, with music by the Hungarian composer Karl Hajos and lyrics by Fritz Löhner-Beda, one of the most famous Viennese songwriters of his time, and graphically striking illustrated wrappers by Wolfgang Ortmann. The nonsense lyrics poke fun at the absurdist use of language in Dada and at the movement's cult status: the beginning of the chorus translates as "Dada, O holy Dada, O loudmouthed Dada, hear my prayer." Published in 1920, coinciding with the First International Dada Fair in Berlin, the song must have appealed to Berliners who found the movement's gatherings and publications bizarre and amusing. Upright folio. 6 pp. Toned, spine reinforced internally with paper tape, two small early tape repairs to inside front cover with resultant staining, lower edges lightly chipped.

Very scarce; WorldCat displays only one copy, at the National Gallery of Art Library, Washington DC.

The Austrian librettist, lyricist, and writer Fritz Löhner-Beda was an important voice in 1920's Vienna. He wrote and produced several operas with Franz Léhar, including Das Land des Lächelns and Giuditta. He was arrested by Nazi forces in 1938 because of his Jewish background, and held in Dachau, Buchenwald, and finally Auschwitz, where he was beaten to death in 1942. He is particularly remembered for his Buchenwaldlied, the anthem of the Buchenwald camp, with its line "Wir wollen trotzdem Ja zum Leben sagen" ("We still want to say yes to life.")

Hungarian-born composer Karl Hajos worked in Vienna, where he founded the "Pierrot" publishing house, before emigrating to the United States in 1924. In Hollywood, he composed music for over 100 films in the late silent era. (14725)

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