Hinz und Kunz - (2008) ![](images/01_Little_Green_Dot.gif)
Matthias Claudius
for medium high voice and piano
H. Was meinst du, Kunz, wie groß die Sonne sei?
K. Wie groß, Hinz? -- als 'n Straußenei.
H. Du weißt es schön, bei meiner Treu'!
Die Sonne als 'n Straußenei!
K. Was meinst denn du, wie groß sie sei?
H. So groß, hör' -- als 'n Fuder Heu.
K. Man dächt' kaum, daß es möglich sei;
Potz tausend, als 'n Fuder Heu!
[ 2 pages, circa 1' 25" ]
![](images/Matthias_Claudius_2.jpg)
Matthias Claudius
Hinz: What do you think, Kunz, how big is the sun?
Kunz: How big, Hinz? Big as an ostrich egg.
Hinz: You know that for sure! The sun like an ostrich egg!
Kunz: What do you think then, how big is it?
Hinz: So big, listen, as a cart filled with hay.
Kunz: One can hardly believe that this is possible; damn it all, as a cart filled with hay!
![](images/Hinz_und_Kunz_range.gif)
Such conversations have gone on throughout the ages, uninformed guesswork after guesswork sounding quite authoritative to some, and silly to others. For this reason Claudius set his little tale into a poetic conversation. The setting contrasts the two speakers with differing though short harmonic regions, the major tonic-dominant for Hinz, and the parallel minor's mirror for Kunz. The pick-up beat for Hinz should be stressed and a portamento to the following note overdone.
![](images/Hinz_und_Kunz_1.gif)
The third "strophe" modulates to D for a moment, but the setting recovers to its underlying C major through the unresolved chromaticism above a simple tonic and dominant "waltz." A notated accelerando as the conversation progresses moves on towards the final cadence.
![](images/Hinz_und_Kunz_2.gif)
The score for Hinz und Kunz is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.
![](images/score.gif)
Hinz und Kunz
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