August Zarnack

Zarnack was born in Mehmke, Saxony to a preacher. In 1795, he left home to receive theological training at a seminary in Halle, Saxony at the University of Halle, and became a preacher himself.^[1] In 1805, Zarnack moved to Beeskow to be the town church's second preacher, and also became teacher at a girls' school. In 1815, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars and after a major expansion of Brandenburg-Prussia, Zarnack was appointed director of education at the Royal Military Orphanage in Potsdam, originally intended for the children of slain soldiers. In 1822, Zarnack was involved in a scandal after accusations by an orphan girl under his care, and was temporarily suspended.^[1] He died in Potsdam in 1827.

Zarnack was best known after his death for his work in music and compilation of folk music. He put lyrics to a version of O Tannenbaum that was more a love song (Liebeslieder). Zarnack's version was published in 1819–1820. Ernst Anschütz would write the most famous and prominent version of O Tannenbaum in 1824 that is still sung today. Anschütz's version was a Christmas carol rather than a love song, however. Anschütz kept Zarnack's first verse, and thus Zarnack is usually partially credited for the inspiration of the carol.

• Deutsche Volkslieder Band I, Berlin 1818 (Full text); Band II, Berlin 1820 (Full text)
• Weisenbuch zu den Volksliedern für Volksschulen, 2 Bände 1819/20 (Full text at Google Books)
• Deutsche Sprichwörter zu Verstandesübungen für die Schulen bearbeitet. Maurer, Berlin 1820 (Full text from University of Düsseldorf)
• Aehrenkranz deutscher Volksmährchen. Mittler, Berlin/Posen/Bromberg 1828 (Full text at Google Books)

German Wikisource has original text related to this article:

O Tannenbaum (Zarnack)

• "Ich hab die Nacht geträumet"
• "O Tannenbaum"