Ride of the Valkyies

Cafe Society
1

I was listening to this the other day and was curious. At least one point in the piece, you hear the valkyies yelling out something in German.

Does anyone know what they are yelling, or is it some nonsensical war cry like the famous “Rebel Yell”?

2

“Hi-Yo-To-Ho! Hi-Yo-To-Ho!”

Which is German for “Damn, this breastplate is cold!”

:smiley:

3

I’m not sure where Wagner got it from, but their signature shout (hi-yo-to-hoOO! etc.–of course, the “yo” part is rendered “jo” in “German”) doesn’t mean anything in any language, as far as I know. Your second speculation (a nonsensical war-cry) is pretty much on the mark.

The Valkyries go on to have a real conversation in German, mainly talking about their horses, before their sister (and fellow Valkyrie) Brunnhilde shows up, with a pregnant Sieglinde in tow and an angry Wotan not far behind.

4

Incidentally, here’s a transcript of that scene (Act III, scene 1).

And, just for fun, this is what it looks like in German.