11

11

A source of inspiration

The composer Richard Wagner drew inspiration from it, Carl Maria von Weber used the Teufelsschlucht (devil’s gorge) as scenery of his opera „Der Freischütz“. And even earlier, in the 18th century, Carl Gottlieb Hering who was born in Schandau in 1766 composed popular tunes for children. The teacher, organist and composer provided the melodies for popular childrens’ rhymes like „Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf’ Galopp“ (Hop, hop, hop; gallopp little horse) and „Morgen Kinder wird’s ‘was geben“ (Tomorrow, children, something will be given) as well as the famous Coffee Canon „C-A-F-F-E-E trink’ nicht zuviel Kaffee“ (C-O-F-F-E-E don’t drink too much coffee). A plaque on the house in Poststrasse 3 in Bad Schandau commemorates the musician.
Todays rocking horse can be found in the local museum in Hinterhemsdorf. Near the museum stands the village church. The angels inside the church provided its name – Engelskirche (church of the angels)- and adorn the right side of the calendar.