Pronounciation

[pianoplayer88]

I was just wondering...I am working on a piece by Edvard Grieg called
"Zug der Zwerge".

Does anyone know how to pronounce this?

[keypeg]

Zug der Zwerge

Tsoog dare tsver'-ge

hopefully with a gentle gutteral R.

[pianoplayer88]

Thanks! 

[rachfan]

Ha!  That's the wonder of the Internet--people here from around the world, and someone always has the answer to a question.  Cool!   

[counterpoint]

How to pronounce "Zwerge"   


http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=VMaXAIaN3Z8&feature=related

[pianowolfi]

How to pronounce "Zwerge"   


http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=VMaXAIaN3Z8&feature=related

LOL  Otto Waalkes-. Hmm---pictures and sounds from one of my past lives I guess.

[slobone]

How to pronounce "Zwerge"   


http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=VMaXAIaN3Z8&feature=related

Isn't that a Village People song???

[ksnmohan]

Hi pianoplayer88,

Well done keypeg!

Incidentally for those who would like to know what it means, simply "Train of the Dwarfs" or "Dwarfs' Train".

[keypeg]

Hi pianoplayer88,

Incidentally for those who would like to know what it means, simply "Train of the Dwarfs" or "Dwarfs' Train".

Are you sure?  What is the piece actually about?  Zug can be a train, but it can also mean to wander or travel, the word being the noun form of the verb "ziehen" meaning literally to pull.  "Ausziehen" or "Auszug" for example means to move out.

I just found a lovely fairy tale which is in German unfortunately - maybe the piece relates to it.  The story is called "Zug der Zwerge".  In it, dwarves live with people, and depend on their generosity.  One greedy baker suspects the dwarves are "stealing" from him so he lays in wait at night.  He knocks the cap off of some of the dwarves with his broom, and that makes them visible.  The villagers are incensed that the dwarves have been stealing from them, and place a pot on a hill, in which each dwarf who has taken food must place a  coin. They count thousands of coins. Villagers are angry at dwarves, dwarves are angry at villagers.  The dwarves pack up their things and move out.  So "Zug" seems to have the meaning of wandering away.  The dwarves are never seen again.

I would translate the title as "Exodus of the Dwarves". 

If you wanted to stay with the train meaing, "Dwarf Train" would be more elegant.  If it were a train belonging to dwarves, though, more likely it would be called Zwergzug or Zwergenzug.

[ksnmohan]

Hi keypeg!

Thanks. I go with your translation. Searched under google.DE and Grieg's piece is given as "March of the Dwarfs', in line with yr explanation . Incidentally Zug also means "hunt", which again fits your story.

Also, no need to spell the plural as Dwarves.....like in scarves or knives. English is indeed a funny language! Dwarfs is correct.

Prof Narayanan
Madras/India

[keypeg]

Thanks. I go with your translation. Searched under google.DE and Grieg's piece is given as "March of the Dwarfs', in line with yr explanation . Incidentally Zug also means "hunt", which again fits your story.

Also, no need to spell the plural as Dwarves.....like in scarves or knives. English is indeed a funny language! Dwarfs is correct.

Prof Narayanan
Madras/India

Glad to hear it.  I'm a linguist, so I'm glad you accept my translation.     Both dwarfs and dwarves are acceptable English usage.  The question is which may be American and which would be British/Canadian English. 

Well now we know what Grieg had in mind.  I suppose the piece itself sounds like a March.

[richard black]

'Procession' would probably be the best translation of 'Zug' here. But anyway Grieg presumably titled it in Norwegian....

And by the way it's 'Pronunciation' - no 'o' in the middle.

[pianochick93]

And by the way it's 'Pronunciation' - no 'o' in the middle.

I believed it's pronouned like that, but it is spelt 'pronounciation'

[keypeg]

I believed it's pronouned like that, but it is spelt 'pronounciation'

According to what dictionary?  Mine all say "pronunciation".

[pianoplayer88]

It's pronunciation. I can usually spell pretty well but I just messed up on that word.

[pianochick93]

It's pronunciation. I can usually spell pretty well but I just messed up on that word.

Same here. I stand corrected