Klarinet Archive - Posting 000101.txt from 2010/05

From: Michael Nichols <mrn.clarinet@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] mozart
Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 11:11:43 -0400

On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Dan Leeson <dnleeson@-----.net> wrote:
> The term "urtext" derives from the biblical reference to the city of Ur,
> which is suggested to place where everything began; i.e., the origin.

Where did you hear that, Dan? I've never heard that before.

"Urtext" is a German word, and "Ur-" is a common German prefix that
denotes that something is first or original. Many German words
contain this prefix, such as "Urquelle" (wellspring--literally,
"original source"), "urspr=FCnglich" (original), "Urbev=F6lkerung"
(indigenous/aboriginal population), "Urbild" (model--literally,
"original picture").

"Urtext" literally means "original text." Another German word with a
similar meaning is "Urschrift" (manuscript--literally, "original
script").

As far as I know, the prefix "Ur-" has been a part of the German
language since time immemorial and has nothing to do with Ur of the
Chaldeans (which was in what is present day Iraq, a little way's
northwest of Basra).
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