Mag ich Unglück nicht widerstahn
General information
Mag ich Unglück nit widerstan is a Lied that came to be known as the song of the Queen of Hungary. In all its differing text versions it bears the acrostic Maria (first syllables of the versers). Although Mary of Hungary, the sister of Charles V never openly confessed to her liking for the Reformation, Mag ich Unglück with a sacred text variant is included in many of the protestant hymnbooks, starting in 1529. But the earliest known witness of the Lied is a textless setting for lute by Ludwig Senfl in 1523. May be this was ordered as a wedding gift by her spouse,
The popularity of the song itself seems to have been influenced by its connection with major topics of the time which also apply to Mary's life and fate: love, death and questions of faith. Later in the 16th century, various contrafacta were placed in pamphlets thus reflecting events in the early years of the Reformation in the German-speaking realm.
Lyricist: The text is sometimes attributed to Martin Luther, but not without major doubts. In one some of the earliest hymnals (1531, 1533) it is included as 'nicht von den Unsern zu Wittenberg, sondern anders woher'. Another attribution is to Mary of Hungary, may be partly for church-political reasons.
Settings by composers
Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above
- Caspar Bohemus — Mag ich Unglück nicht widerstahn
- Melchior Franck — Mag ich Unglück nicht widerstahn
- Ludwig Senfl — Mag ich Unglück nicht widerstahn
External links
- Sonja Tröster, Senfl studien no.1 (2012) [1]
Texts and Translations
Secular text
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sacred text Der DUrchleuchtigsten Großmechtigen |