Lightly Row - German Traditional

Lightly Row

Practice smooth flowing melodies
Develop even quarter note rhythm
Master five-note range (D, E, G, A, B)

About This Song

Origin: Traditional German

Difficulty: Beginner

Notes Used: D, E, G, A, B

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: D Major

Fingering Review

Full Song

A gentle German folk song with a flowing melody. The song is mostly quarter notes with a few half notes at phrase endings.

Lyrics:

Lightly row, lightly row,
O'er the glassy waves we go;
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide,
On the silent tide.

Practice Tips

Smooth transitions: Focus on making each note flow into the next without gaps
Even rhythm: Keep the quarter notes steady and consistent
Breath placement: Breathe at the end of each phrase (after the half notes)
Gentle articulation: Use soft tonguing to match the gentle character of the song

Practice Exercises

Practice the opening three-note pattern.

Practice the descending melody in the second phrase.

Master the final descending phrase to low D.

Practice the skips from E to G smoothly.

Put together the first two phrases.

Historical Context

Lightly Row is a traditional German folk song that has been adapted into many languages and is widely used in music education. The gentle, flowing melody mirrors the imagery of gliding smoothly over water in a boat. The song's simple structure and limited range make it ideal for beginning recorder players, while its lyrical quality helps students develop musical expression. The German original is known as "Hänschen klein."

Performance Goal: Play the entire song with smooth, connected notes and a gentle, flowing character. Aim for even rhythm throughout and clear phrase endings.

Next Steps

Once you can play Lightly Row confidently, try:

Playing with a metronome to ensure steady rhythm
Experimenting with different tempos (slower for a calm feel, faster for energy)
Learning "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" which uses similar patterns