Hess 312 – Singen ist des Lebens Freude (Canon)
Hess 312 – “Singing Is Life’s Joy” (Canon for Four Voices)
According to a communication by Fr. Kaiser, this canon is believed to be found in Der Liederbote by J.H. Fischer (Part 3, Number 2). A copy of Fischer’s book was located at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (SBB), and the page is presented here thanks to the kind efforts of Dr. Max Vogt.
The book was published by Schwartz in Brieg around 1844. Although the booklet does not bear a publication date, it was listed in the 1844 catalog of the music publisher Hoffmeister as “a collection of songs, chorales, hymns, motets, etc., for four voices (in eight sections).”
Beethoven’s canon appears in Part Two, Section Three.
The Text
Singen ist des Lebens Freude, Singen ist der Jugend Lust; Darum singen wir auch heute, Freudevoll aus froher Brust.
Translation:
Singing is life’s joy, Singing is youth’s delight; That’s why we sing today, Joyfully from a cheerful heart.
This text was adapted to Beethoven’s Canon WoO 160 No. 2, originally composed without lyrics.
Publication History & Attribution
The original canon, without text, was first published by Ignaz Ritter von Seyfried in Beethoven Studien, Haslinger, Vienna, 1832, page 331. It is conjectured that the lyrics were written by J.H. Fischer, but there is no definitive proof of this in the publication.
For further details, refer to the research by Mark Zimmer and Albert Willem Holsbergen at .
Musical and Cultural Expansion
This canon, though brief, reflects Beethoven’s fondness for musical wit and social harmony. Canons were often used in informal gatherings, musical games, or pedagogical exercises. The cheerful text aligns with the spirit of communal singing, a tradition deeply rooted in German musical culture.
Stylistically, the canon likely features:
- A simple melodic line, easily imitated across voices
- Diatonic harmony with joyful rhythmic motion
- A structure suitable for amateur choirs or domestic performance
Though minor in scale, works like Hess 312 offer a glimpse into Beethoven’s lighter, more convivial side—far from the stormy grandeur of his symphonies, yet no less sincere.
