Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark

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Aaberg Jens Christian. Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark

Foreword

Chapter One. Early Danish Hymnody

Chapter Two. Reformation Hymnody

Thomas Kingo, the Easter Poet of Denmark

Chapter Three. Kingo’s Childhood and Youth

Chapter Four. Kingo, the Hymnwriter

Chapter Five. Kingo’s Psalmbook

Chapter Six. Kingo’s Church Hymns

Chapter Seven. Kingo’s Later Years

Hans Adolph Brorson, the Christmas Singer of Denmark

Chapter Eight. Brorson’s Childhood and Youth

Chapter Nine. The Singer of Pietism

Chapter Ten. Brorson’s SWAN-SONG

Nicolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig. the Singer of Pentecost

Chapter Eleven. Grundtvig’s Early Years

Chapter Twelve. The Lonely Defender of the Bible

Chapter Thirteen. The Living Word

Chapter Fourteen. The Hymnwriter

Chapter Fifteen. Grundtvig’s Hymns

Chapter Sixteen. Grundtvig’s Later Years

Other Danish Hymnwriters

Chapter Seventeen

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Danish hymnody, like that of other Protestant countries, is largely a child of the Reformation. The Northern peoples were from ancient times lovers of song. Much of their early history is preserved in poetry, and no one was more honored among them than the skjald who most skillfully presented their thoughts and deeds in song. Nor was this love of poetry lost with the transition from paganism to Christianity. The splendid folk songs of the Middle Ages prove conclusively that both the love of poetry and the skill in writing it survived into the new age. One can only wonder what fine songs the stirring advent of Christianity might have produced among a people so naturally gifted in poetry if the church had encouraged rather than discouraged this native gift.

But the Church of Rome evinced little interest in the ancient ways of the people among whom she took root. Her priests received their training in a foreign tongue; her services were conducted in Latin; and the native language and literature were neglected. Except for a few lawbooks, the seven hundred years of Catholic supremacy in Denmark did not produce a single book in the Danish language. The ordinances of the church, furthermore, expressly forbade congregational singing at the church services, holding that, since it was unlawful for the laity to preach, it was also impermissible for them to sing in the sanctuary. It is thus likely that a Danish hymn had never been sung, except on a few special occasions in a Danish church before the triumph of the Reformation.

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And the passing hours must admonish the Christian to work while it is day and to prepare for the evening that is coming:

Finest of all Kingo’s morning hymns is the splendid “The Sun Arises Now in Light and Glory”. This hymn presents all the finest traits of Kingo’s poetry, its vivid imagery, forceful style and robust faith. The following translation is by the Rev. P. C. Paulsen.

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