Act I. The feelings in the breast of Johannes Freudhofer, the teacher, do not correspond to the peaceful spectacle of the monastery of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Othmar. He is filled with a savage jealousy of his own brother, Matthias, who is actuary in the monastery, because he sees that the affections of Martha, the beautiful niece of Engel, the steward of the monastery, are denied him. He thinks to injure his brother when he betrays the latter's love to the haughty steward. And the latter actually dismisses Matthias from his office. But with this Johannes has not attained his object. For he himself can spy on them and see the two plighting eternal faithfulness on his secret departure. So the treacherous man resolved upon the complete ruin of the lovers. He sets fire to the monastery. Matthias, who is tarrying in the arbour beside his sweetheart hurries out to get help, but is seized by the other as the incendiary out of revenge.
Act II. Thirty years have elapsed. In the courtyard of a house in Vienna, Magdalena meets an evangelist in whom she recognizes Matthias, the friend of her youth. She herself is here caring for Johannes who is ill. How has Matthias become an evangelist? He tells her his sad history. He had been sentenced to prison for twenty years. When he had finished his punishment he learned that his sweetheart Martha out of grief had sought death in the water. Then he had become a wandering, singing preacher.
Second Part. In the sitting-room, Johannes lies ill. But more than pain disturbs his mind. Then he hears outside the voice of the evangelist. Magdalena must call him in. Without recognizing him Johannes tells his brother of the infamous action through which he had ruined the other's life. And Matthias not only preaches love but practices it too. He forgives his brother who now can die in peace.
DER KUHREIGEN
RANZ DES VACHES
Music-drama in three acts; music by Wilhelm Kienzl; poem by Richard Batka.
Characters
| The King | Bass |
| Marquis Massimelle, commandant | Bass |
| Blanchefleur, his wife | Soprano |
| Cleo, their lady at court | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Captain Brayole | Tenor |
| Primus Thallus | Tenor |
| Dursel (Bass) and under officers in a Swiss regiment | |
| Favart, under-officer of Chasseurs | Baritone |
| Doris, daughter of the keeper of a canteen in the St. Honoré barracks | Soprano |
Time—1792-3.
Place—Paris and Versailles.
Act I. Barracks of St. Honoré. Under penalty of death the Swiss soldiers have been forbidden to sing their native songs especially the Kuhreigen or "Ranz des Vaches," because songs of their native land always awakened homesickness and had led to desertions. But a quarrel between Primus Thallus, of the Swiss, and Favart, of the Chasseurs, excites the Swiss and they sing "In the fort at Strassburg" (Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz) the song of the Swiss who became a deserter through homesickness, the song which was forbidden by such a severe decree, especially because it introduced the Kuhreigen or "Ranz des Vaches." Then Favart believed the moment had come to be able to avenge himself. He quickly called an officer to hear the forbidden song. The officer first wants to arrest all the Swiss, but Primus Thallus takes all the blame on himself; he is glad to prevent the others being imprisoned.