Mumm Séis

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Mumm Séis (originally: D’Mumm Sěs oder De Gêscht) is undoubtedly one of the best‑known Luxembourgish operettas. Named after its main character, a gullible washerwoman, this comedy was written and set to music by Edmond de la Fontaine (Dicks) in 1855. For the 200^th birthday of Dicks, one of Luxembourg’s “national writers” in 2023, the operetta was adapted by Samuel Hamen, in a new arrangement and with additional music by Ivan Boumans. Reimagined but still recognisable, De Geescht oder D’Mumm Séiss was produced by the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg under the direction of Jacques Schiltz.

As part of the accompanying programme (Samedis aux Théâtres), MuGi.lu organised an event titled “Wien huet d’Box un an der lëtzebuergescher Operett?” (Who wears the trousers in Luxembourgish operetta?), which proposed a musical role reversal. Indeed, in the first performances of Dicks’ operettas by the male gymnastics club Gym, the female roles were sung and performed by men. Conversely, in the 19^th century, women could also play so-called “trouser roles” in operas and operettas, although this latter practice is not documented for Luxembourg at that time. Both practices were recreated here to explore the effect of a role reversal on a character read as female or male (see programme attached).

The songs can be found in the gallery “Experiment”, while explanatory interviews with the participants are available in the gallery “Interviews”. In her talk, literary scholar and historian Germaine Goetzinger examined gender roles in Dick’s operettas (in Luxembourgish). The written version in German is attached below.

Programme “Wien huet d’Box un an der lëtzebuergescher Operett?” (9.12.2023)

Germaine Goetzinger, Zum Geschlechterverhältnis in den Operetten von Dicks (2026)

Selection of sources and curation of the webpage: Noemi Deitz

Creation of the digital archive on the portal: Noemi Deitz and Danielle Roster

Interviews and online publication: Anne Schiltz

The portal “Mumm Séis” was developed as part of the research and outreach project Klangbilder der Stadt Luxemburg, supported by the City of Luxembourg.

Scores & Librettos

<strong><i>D’Mumm Sěs oder: De Gêscht. Koměděstéck an èngem Ackt. Tèxt a Muséck fum Dicks</i>, libretto, Luxembourg: V. Bück, 1858.</strong> <br> Here: title page and p. 18 (Duet of Kèttě and Mumm Sěs: <i>Mimi, dîr krit mech drun</i>)

<strong><i>Dicks-Album: 20 sénger schěnster Lidder fir Gesank mat Klavěerbeglédonk</i>, printed as manuscript, Guill. Stomps, 1896.</strong> <br> Here: p. 4 (<i>Ech sin e grǒszen Hèxemêschter</i>)<br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [ALM_6140]

<strong><i>Dicks-Album: 20 sénger schěnster Lidder fir Gesank mat Klavěerbeglédonk</i>, printed as manuscript, Guill. Stomps, 1896.</strong> <br> Here: p. 25 (<i>Dû brâuchs mer neischt ze schwiéren</i>)<br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [ALM_6140]

<strong><i>Vollständige Gesamt-Ausgabe der Operetten in Luxemburger Mundart von Dicks. Clavierauszug mit vollständigem Text</i>. Luxembourg: J. W. Stomps, 1890.</strong> <br> Here: No. 1 <i>D’Mumm Sěs, Koměděstéck an èngem Ackt</i>, title page and p. 3

<strong><i>D’Natio’n</i> (29.9.1923), p. 79 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/7qbknfwpt/pages/7/articles/DTL151]</strong> <br> The complete libretto of <i>Mumm Se’s</i>, published as a supplement to the periodical <i>D’Natio’n</i> in September 1923; beginning.

<strong><i>D’Mumm Se’s: Komedio en un Akto da Dicks, Tradukita de la Luxemburgiana Dialekto da H. Meier</i>, Stockholm: Editerio P. Ahlberg, 1924, title page.</strong> <br> Translation of the libretto of <i>Mumm Se’s</i> into Esperanto by Henri Meier.<br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [LA_18793]

<strong><i>D’Mumm Séis: ouverture de l’opérette. Orchestration: Henri Pensis</i>, Luxembourg: Luxembourg Music Publishers, [2020], title page.</strong> <br> © LMP

Press

<strong>Detailed synopsis of <i>Mumm Séis</i> and contextualisation within Dicks’ body of work, published only a few days after the operetta’s premiere.</strong> <br> <i>Wächter an der Sauer</i> (17.11.1855), p. 1–3, here p. 1 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/01p47g/pages/1/articles/DTL36]

<strong>Announcement of the performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> by the theatre section of the men’s choral society <i>Harmonie</i> in November 1864.</strong> <br> <i>L’Union</i> (27.11.1864), p. 4 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/ftb1wk/pages/4/articles/DTL168]

<strong>Reader’s letter by “R. D.” concerning the performance of <i>Mutter Suse</i>, the German version of <i>Mumm Séis</i>, in February 1879. </strong> <br> <i>L’indépendance luxembourgeoise</i> (2.2.1879), p. 2 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/nbxrqx/pages/2/articles/DTL43]

<strong>Invitation to subscribe to Dicks’ plays, with <i>Mumm Séis</i> listed first, by the music publisher J. W. Stomps in 1889.</strong> <br> <i>L’indépendance luxembourgeoise</i> (22.11.1889), p. 4 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/m7n6xw/pages/4/articles/DTL168]

<strong>Review of a performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> by the Rumelange Gymnastics Club in 1892, in which all roles were played by men.</strong> <br> <i>Obermosel-Zeitung</i> (29.11.1892), p. 3 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/6qrksn/pages/3/articles/DTL62]

<strong>Announcement of the performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> by the <i>Union Dramatique</i> in January 1907.</strong> <br> <i>L’indépendance luxembourgeoise</i> (12.01.1907), p. 3 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/sdv358/pages/3/articles/DTL58]

<strong>Announcement of a new play based on the characters from <i>Mumm Séis</i> in January 1915.</strong> <br> <i>Obermosel-Zeitung</i> (15.1.1915), p. 3 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/sv0scs/pages/3/articles/DTL48]

<strong>The characters “Mumm Séis” (bottom) and “Hexemeeschter” (top) on a parade float in Esch-sur-Alzette in 1923.</strong> <br> <i>Obermosel-Zeitung</i> (21.7.1923), p. 6 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/f8r671/pages/6/articles/DTL130]

<strong>Review of a performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> from 1935 starring Alice Peffer and Dolorès Goeres in the leading roles.</strong> <br> <i>L’indépendance luxembourgeoise</i> (5.3.1934), p. 3 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/q948nq/pages/3/articles/DTL55]

<strong>Review of a performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> from 1947 starring Dolorès Goeres as “Mumm Séis”.</strong> <br> <i>Revue</i> (1.2.1947), p. 67 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/qfr2wkfz0k/pages/23/articles/DIVL741]

<strong>Review of a performance of <i>Mumm Séis</i> at the “Dicks Festival” in 1963.</strong> <br> <i>Luxemburger Wort</i> (27.7.1963), p. 4 [Digitised by the National Library of Luxembourg, https://persist.lu/ark:70795/gjrqdbf6d/pages/4/articles/DIVL317]

Arrangements

<strong>Kowalsky, Alfred: <i>Et wor emol e Kanoněer</i>, arrangement for four-part male choir (TTBB), Luxembourg: Guill. Stomps, 1904, [p. 1].</strong> <br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [ALM_522]

<strong>Kahnt, Gustav: <i>Dicksiana. Potpourri iwer Lidder vum Dicks</i>. Luxembourg: M. Hülsemann succ., after 1920, title page. This potpourri includes, among others, the songs <i>Et wor emol e Kanoněer</i>, <i>Du brauchs mer neischt ze schwiéren</i> and <i>Éch sin e grǒszen Hèxemêschter</i> from the operetta <i>D’Mumm Sěs</i>.</strong> <br> © Bibliothèque du Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg

<strong>Mertens, Fernand: <i>D’Mumm Se’ss. Ouverture de l’opérette de Dicks</i>, arrangement for symphonic wind orchestra and fanfare, conductor in B flat, Luxembourg: M. Hülsemann, n.d., title page and p. 2.</strong> <br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [ALM_812]

<strong>Mertens, Fernand: <i>D’Mumm Se’s. Fantaisie</i>, arrangement for accordion and piano, manuscript, c. 1950, title page and p. 1.</strong> <br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [ALMD_149]

<strong>Schmit, Jean-Pierre: <i>Du brauchs mer neischt ze schwieren. Lidd aus „D’Mumm Se’s”</i>, arrangement for four-part male choir (TTBB), Luxembourg: Letzeburger Vollekslidder-Verlag, 1955.</strong> <br> © Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg / Cedom [LM_537]

Audio

“Ech sinn e groussen Hexemeeschter”, performed by Paul Sontag and the Studioorchester Frankfurt, 1955.

Paul Sontag: Historesch Opnamen aus de Joren 1945–1966. Centre national de l’audiovisuel, 2003, CD 1, track 1

“Beschwierongszeen”, performed by Paul Sontag and the Studioorchester Frankfurt, 1955.

Paul Sontag: Historesch Opnamen aus de Joren 1945–1966. Centre national de l’audiovisuel, 2003, CD 1, track 2

11 excerpts from D’Mumm Séis, performed by the orchestra and choir of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, conducted by Pierre Cao, 1992.

“Hommage à Dicks”, a medley of songs by Dicks, arranged by Ivan Boumans, performed by the chamber choir and the Pueri Cantores of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg (conductor: Pierre Nimax) and the Orchestre philharmonique de Luxembourg conducted by Pierre Cao, 21 June 2019.

The first piece (from around 0:45) is “Et wor emol e Kanonéier” from Mumm Séis.

“De groussen Hexemeeschter”, peformed by Serge Tonnar and Georges Urwald, 18 January 2022.

Posters & Flyers

<strong>Poster for the Dicks celebration in Remich in 1936, where <i>D’Mumm Séis</I> was also performed.</strong> <br> Théo Kerg: <i>Dicks-Feier. Re’mech 2. August</i>, Luxembourg: Feller, [1936]

<strong>Poster for the performance of <i>De Geescht oder D’Mumm Séis</i> in 2023, for “200 Joer Dicks”.</strong> <br> Grand Théâtre, 17-23 December 2023; Batty Fischer <br> © Photothèque de la Ville de Luxembourg / © boshua

<strong>Flyer “Wien huet d’Box un an der lëtzebuergescher Operett?“ MuGi.lu event on the occasion of the performance of <i>De Geescht oder D’Mumm Séis</i></strong> <br> Théâtre des Capucins, 9 December 2023 <br> © Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

<strong>Leaflet “Wien huet d’Box un an der lëtzebuergescher Operette?“ MuGi.lu event on the occasion of the (planned) performance of the operetta <i>An der Schwemm</i></strong> <br> Château de Wiltz, 29.6.2024 <br> © Festival de Wiltz 2024

Programme booklets

<strong>Excerpt from the programme booklet of the Dicks celebration in 1955, including, among other works, <i>D’Mumm Séis</i>, programme, p. 8–9.</strong> <br> <i>Dicksfeier: [1855-1955]: Gro’ssen Théâter, Stâdt Letzeburg, organise’ert vun der Stâdt Letzeburg.</i>

<strong>Excerpt from the programme booklet of the Dicks celebration in 1955, including <i>D’Mumm Séis</i>, drawings of scenes from the operetta, p. 14–15.</strong> <br> <i>Dicksfeier: [1855-1955]: Gro’ssen Théâter, Stâdt Letzeburg, organise’ert vun der Stâdt Letzeburg.</i>

<strong>Project note from the programme booklet of the premiere of <i>De Geescht oder D’Mumm Séis</i> in December 2023, p. 9–11.</strong>

<strong>Excerpt from the programme booklet of the premiere of <i>De Geescht oder D’Mumm Séis</i> in December 2023, p. 2–3.</strong><br> Photo with Jules Werner (De Geescht), Anouk Wagener (Ierwin) and Timo Wagner (Agent immobilier) © Boshua

Interviews