Songs for Choir Ars Nova Copenhagen Michael Bojesen Frihed Er Det Bedste Guld (Freedom Is the Purest Gold), CNW 255 (1919; Arr

Songs for choir Ars Nova Copenhagen Michael Bojesen Frihed er det bedste guld (Freedom is the purest gold), CNW 255 (1919; arr. 1921) ��3:56 Songs for choir from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. XVIII Som en rejselysten flåde (There’s a fleet of floating islands), CNW 237 (1920) ��5:30 Ars Nova Copenhagen from the play ‘Moderen’ (The Mother), op. 41, CNW 18 Michael Bojesen, conductor Udrundne er de gamle dage (Gone are the days, they’re past and olden), CNW 253 (1917) ��2:05 version for mixed choir, arr. 1925 Der sad en fisker så tankefuld (There sat a fisherman deep in thought), CNW 244 (1919) ��4:44 Nu er dagen fuld af sang (Now the day is full of song), CNW 213 (1914) ��2:17 from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. VII from ‘En Snes danske Viser’ (1915) (A Score of Danish Songs, 1915) Du danske mand! af al din magt (Sing, Danish man! With all your might), Frydeligt med jubelkor (Jubilation, shouts of glee), CNW 375 (1906) ��2:26 CNW 288 (1906) ��2:30 from ‘Melodier til sangbogen Danmark’ (Melodies for the Songbook “Denmark”) version for mixed choir, arr. 1915-16 Påskeblomst! hvad vil du her? (Easterbloom! Why are you here?), CNW 361 (1910) ��4:58 På det jævne, på det jævne! (Simple-rooted, simple-rooted!), CNW 238 (1921) ��4:18 lyrics/text as presented in ‘Den Danske Salmebog’ (The Danish Hymn Book) from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. I Vi sletternes sønner har drømme i sind (We, sons of the plains carry dreams Derfor kan vort øje glædes (Wherefore do our eyes feel pleasure), CNW 239 (1919) ��2:20 in our minds), CNW 147 (1907-08) ��4:20 from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. II from ‘Fire sange fra Ludvig Holsteins skuespil “Tove” (Four Songs from Ludvig Holstein’s play “Tove”) Tunge, mørke natteskyer (Heavy, gloomy clouds of night), CNW 250 (1917) ��3:04 Havet omkring Danmark (Seas surrounding Denmark), CNW 146 (1907-08) ��2:42 from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. XIII from ‘Fem sange fra L.C. Nielsens skuespil “Willemoes” ’ Hvem sidder der bag skærmen (Who’s there behind the shelter), CNW 137 (1907) ��3:49 (Five Songs from L.C. Nielsen’s Play “Willemoes”) from ‘Strofiske Sange’ (Strophic Songs), op. 21, no. 3 I solen går jeg bag min plov (In shining sun I steer my plough), CNW 129 (1895-96) ��2:32 Betragt mit svage spind (Behold my web, how frail), CNW 254 (1921) ��1:26 from ‘Seks sange til tekster af Ludvig Holstein’ (Six Songs to Texts by Ludvig Holstein), op. 10 from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. XVII (This is the revelation), CNW 261 (1922) ��3:20 Nu skal det åbenbares Den danske sang er en ung, blond pige (The Danish song is a fair young maiden), from ‘Fire folkelige Melodier’ (Four “Folkelige” Melodies) CNW 271 (1926) ��2:24 Nu lyser løv i lunde (The greenwood leaves are light now), CNW 256 (1921) ��2:28 from ‘Ti danske Smaasange’ (Ten little Danish songs), no. X from ‘Tyve folkelige Melodier’ (Twenty “Folkelige” Melodies), no. XIX Total: 63:31 Se dig ud en sommerdag (Look about one summer day), CNW 221 (1914) ��2:23 from ‘En Snes danske Viser’ (1917) (A Score of Danish Songs, 1917) Dacapo is supported by the Danish Arts Foundation Carl Nielsen – Songs for choir by Jens Cornelius songs were presented in a kind of ‘conceptual’ concert where the vocal soloists on the stage were dressed in everyday clothing. Carl Nielsen came from the countryside and had grown up with traditional Danish folk music. Carl Nielsen wrote almost 300 songs. Some are solo songs in the classical tradition, but the Without directly quoting folk songs or the music of the folk musicians – as the fully paid-up great majority are simple, popular songs. No other important composer has invested so much of ‘National Romantics’ often did – with his popular songs he struck a musical tone that sounded his productive energy in the most unassuming genre: the community song. This duality as both a familiar, that had the “Schein des Bekannten”. To his wife Anne Marie he wrote: radical and a popular artist is one of Carl Nielsen’s distinctive features, and it colours his produc- “It is strange that when I write these easily comprehensible, simple melodies, it is as if it is not tion both internally and externally. I who am the composer at all; it is as if – how shall I put it – it is people from my childhood over The work with popular songs did not begin as a project for Carl Nielsen, but it ended up on Funen or as if it is the Danish people who want something through me. But perhaps it sounds becoming one. The earliest songs on this album come from highly varied contexts – for example too grand because the matter is so plain and simple, at least for me.” a theatre production (Havet omkring Denmark), a summer revue (Du danske mand) and a col- The popular songs are often grouped together under the general heading “Folk High School lection of Lieder (I solen går jeg bag min plov). The popular potential of those particular songs is songs”, a term that is hard to translate properly, as is the alternative name “Danish songs” (which something Carl Nielsen is unlikely to have reckoned with. Even the overwhelming success in 1907 together make up “the treasury of Danish song”) which does not have the right associations in a of the socially indignant song Jens Vejmand (Who’s there behind the shelter) came as a surprise translated context. In order to move beyond the problem of language and genre, in the new Carl to him. The song made Carl Nielsen one of Denmark’s best known artists, and it reached every Nielsen Edition singable translations in English have been made of all the songs; see pp. 12-37. corner of the country. Jens Vejmand became both a subject of political debate and a ‘hit’ – and in So what are they? Simple, strophic songs – not folk songs, but songs for everyone, and 1910 a dance orchestra recorded it on a cheerful record as Jens Vejmand Polka! ideally for a whole nation; utility music that serves the poetry and the specific framework for But something had been aroused in Carl Nielsen, and in time he saw himself as someone community singing, intended for use in schools, churches and public meetings, and above all for who could contribute to the formulation of a new, popular kind of music, a renewal of the song the Danish Folk High Schools, where adults educate themselves, without taking exams, to learn tradition that had roots as far back as J.A.P. Schulz and his collection Lieder im Volkston from the more about history and culture. 1780s. Schulz thought a new song should have a “Schein des Bekannten”, a feeling of the appar- In 1922 Carl Nielsen was one of the editors of the first edition of Folkehøjskolens Melodibog, ently familiar, if it was to be sung by and have qualities for everyone. the official collection of melodies for the repertoire of folk high school songs. 33 of his own These thoughts came to carry great weight in Carl Nielsen’s view of music, and alongside his melodies were included in the first edition. The selection has varied over the years, songs have increasingly radical works, in the 1910s and 1920s he systematically wrote his popular songs – for been excluded and new ones included, some have become obsolete, others rediscovered. The the first time in 1914 at the urging of the Folk High School principal Johan Borup, and later he present eighteenth edition includes 36 of his songs, and many more have been written by other himself established a collaboration with the composer and hymn reformer Thomas Laub. They composers in Carl Nielsen’s style. put new melodies to older Danish poems, even though several of these already had melodies Can one sing a community song as a choir? People began to do so back in Carl Nielsen’s by other composers. Nielsen and Laub divided up the poems between them and published the own lifetime, and that tradition has continued. Alongside their function as community songs, they melodies in a joint collection, En Snes Danske Viser (A Score of Danish Songs), which appeared have become a regular feature of the Danish amateur choir repertoire – perhaps more so now in two volumes in 1915 and 1917. The project received good press coverage, not least when the than ever before, because the community singing culture in Denmark is in decline. 4 5 Here Ars Nova sing a wide selection of Carl Nielsen’s folk high school songs. Only three are Founded in 1979, Ars Nova Copenhagen has long established itself as one of the world’s finest Nielsen’s own choral versions (his plan to make more choral versions of the popular songs was vocal ensembles. The ensemble’s artistic director is the renowned English conductor Paul Hillier never realized), so the conductor Michael Bojesen has converted Nielsen’s original piano ar- whose more than 150 recordings have won countless international prizes, i.a. two Grammy rangements from Folkehøjskolens Melodibog into four-part choral arrangements. These are thus Awards. Ars Nova is specialized in the interpretation of Renaissance polyphony and contempo- not artistic reworkings as such. “One must beware of making too many changes in Carl Nielsen’s rary vocal music. With an annual concert series in Copenhagen, numerous concerts in the rest songs, because the melody and harmony are so closely connected,” says Michael Bojesen, of Denmark and continual worldwide touring the ensemble is today in demand more than ever who is today one of Carl Nielsen’s successors as a co-editor of the songbook. In this sense the before. Ars Nova has recorded more than 30 CDs to critical acclaim in both Danish and inter- new arrangements are a very puritanical project, quite in Carl Nielsen’s spirit of simplicity and national music press. Among recent releases are ‘Creator Spiritus’ with music by Arvo Pärt, ‘The straightforwardness. Story of Christmas’ (Harmonia Mundi) and ‘The Golden Age of Danish Partsongs’ with music by In order to understand Carl Nielsen’s artistic personality one has to understand the popular some of the best Danish vocal composers from the Romantic period up until today (Dacapo). songs as an integral part of his oeuvre. Sometimes the fusion is straightforward, for example in Earlier releases include portraits of Danish composers like Per Nørgård, Pelle Gudmundsen- Moderen, a production from 1921 about the reunification with South Jutland/North Schleswig, Holmgreen, Ib Nørholm and Rued Langgaard; four CDs with Heinrich Schütz’ complete narrative which Nielsen concluded with the magnificent patriotic song Som en rejselysten flåde. At other works for Christmas and Easter; John Taverner & Tudor Music, Vols. 1 & 2, and Terry Riley’s 60s times the popular melodies are mixed in without words. One finds a direct melodic quotation in classic ‘In C’ as well as ‘The Little Match Girl Passion’ with music by David Lang which won a the variation movement of the Wind Quintet, while the last movement of Symphony no. 3 (“Sin Grammy Award in 2010. fonia espansiva”) with its tribute to everyday working life, is a paraphrase of the popular song as melody type. And even in some of Carl Nielsen’s most modernist works, the Clarinet Concerto Michael Bojesen is a versatile artist as both composer, conductor and music pedagogue. In and Symphony no. 6, ‘popular’ melodic fragments will appear as artistic material. the course of his career he has established a fine reputation for himself as a striking profile In the 1920s Carl Nielsen was asked by the song composer Thorvald Aagaard to write a in the Danish music scene, especially as conductor. For a decade Michael Bojesen was chief “popular symphony”, and although he promised to do so, fortunately nothing ever came of it. conductor for the Danish National Girls Choir for which he since has held the title as honorary It was unnecessary to advertise his stance so clearly when it could already be heard. “If one conductor. Bojesen has worked closely with the DR Big Band, the Danish National Chamber penetrates to the nucleus of my compositions, it will probably be evident that this nucleus is the Orchestra, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Danish regional orchestras. same both in the large symphonies and in the small songs. Yet this has been difficult for many From 1989 to 2006 he conducted The Copenhagen Chamber Choir Camerata with which he people to understand,” Nielsen said in a newspaper interview in 1928. recorded numerous CDs, received many international awards and won a Danish Grammy for In other words, one must not try to seek out the radical artist’s musical idiom in Carl Nielsen’s Best Classical Recording in 1998. Since September 2012 Michael Bojesen has been director of popular songs. The situation is quite the reverse. With his folk high school songs in one’s ears – Copenhagen Opera Festival. Furthermore he was senior lecturer at Sankt Annæ Gymnaisum, and in one’s bones – the connection becomes so obvious that much of his output quite simply associate professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the driving force behind the DR evokes that “feeling of the apparently familiar.” Choir School and co-editor of the 18th edition of the Folk High School Songbook. His involve- ment in singing led to a nationwide initiative ‘The Year of Singing’ in 2008, the same year when © Jens Cornelius, 2014 he was awarded “Den folkelige sangs pris”. 6 7 Carl Nielsen – sange for kor af Jens Cornelius Carl Nielsen kom fra landet og var vokset op med den traditionelle danske folkemusik. Uden direkte at citere folkesange eller spillemandsmusik – hvad de egentlige nationalromantikere derimod gerne gjorde – ramte han med sine folkelige sange en musikalsk tone, der virkede Carl Nielsen skrev næsten 300 sange. Nogle er solosange i klassisk tradition, men langt de fleste bekendt, havde et ”Schein des Bekannten”. Til sin kone Anne Marie skrev han: er enkle, folkelige sange. Ingen anden betydelig komponist har lagt så stor del af sin produktion i ”Det er underligt, at naar jeg skriver disse letfattelige, enkle Melodier er det som om det slet den mest undseelige genre: Fællessang. Dobbeltsidigheden som både radikal og folkelig kunst- ikke er mig der komponerer; det er som om – hvad skal jeg sige – det var Folk fra min Barndom ner er et af Carl Nielsens særkender, og det præger hans produktion indadtil og udadtil. ovre paa Fyn eller som om det var det danske Folk som ønsker noget igennem mig. Men det Arbejdet med folkelige sange begyndte ikke som et projekt for Carl Nielsen, men endte med lyder maaske saa stort, da Sagen er saa jævn og simpel, ihvertfald for mig.” at blive det. De tidligste sange på dette album stammer fra ret forskellige sammenhænge, f.eks. De folkelige sange kaldes tit over en kam for ”højskolesange”. En betegnelse, der er svær at en teaterforestilling (Havet omkring Danmark), en sommerrevy (Du danske mand) og en liedsam- oversætte. Også den alternative betegnelse ”danske sange” (der tilsammen udgør “den danske ling (I solen går jeg bag min plov). Lige de sanges folkelige potentiale havde Carl Nielsen næppe sangskat”) bliver meningsløs i oversat sammenhæng. For at komme ud over sprog- og genre- regnet med. Selv den overvældende succes i 1907 for den socialt indignerede vise Jens Vejmand problemet har man i den nye Carl Nielsen Udgave lavet sangbare oversættelser på engelsk til (Hvem sidder der bag skærmen) kom bag på ham. Sangen gjorde Carl Nielsen til en af Danmarks samtlige sange; oversættelser som anvendes i bookletten her. kendteste kunstnere, og den nåede ud i alle kroge af landet. Jens Vejmand blev både et politisk Hvad er det så for noget? Enkle, strofiske sange, ikke folkesange, men sange for enhver og debatindlæg og en ørehænger – og i 1910 indspillede et danseorkester den på en munter plade ideelt set for et helt folk. Brugsmusik, der tjener lyrikken og de bestemte rammer for fællessang. som Jens Vejmand Polka! Tænkt til brug i skoler, kirker og forsamlinger, og frem for alt til den danske folkehøjskole, hvor Men noget var blevet vakt i Carl Nielsen, og han så efterhånden sig selv som en, der kunne voksne videreuddanner sig – uden eksamen – for at blive klogere på historien og kulturen. være med til at formulere en ny, folkelig musik. En fornyelse af den sangtradition, der havde Carl Nielsen var i 1922 en af redaktørerne af den første udgave af Folkehøjskolens Melodibog, rødder helt tilbage til J.A.P. Schulz og hans samling Lieder im Volkston fra 1780’erne. ”Schein des den officielle samling af melodier til repertoiret af højskolesange. 33 af hans egne melodier kom Bekannten”, et præg af det tilsyneladende velkendte, mente Schulz, at en ny sang skulle have, med i førsteudgaven. Udvalget har svinget gennem årene, sange er røget ud og ind, nogle er hvis den skulle kunne synges af enhver og have kvaliteter for alle. blevet forældet, andre genopdaget. Den nuværende 18. udgave har 36 af hans sange med, og De tanker kom til at fylde utrolig meget i Carl Nielsens musiksyn, og ved siden af sine stadigt mange flere er skrevet af andre komponister i Carl Nielsen-stil. mere radikale værker skrev han i 1910’erne og 1920’erne systematisk sine folkelige sange. Første Kan man synge en fællessang med et flerstemmigt kor? Det begyndte man at gøre allerede gang i 1914 på opfordring fra højskoleforstanderen Johan Borup, og siden etablerede han selv et i Carl Nielsens levetid, og den tradition er fortsat. Sideløbende med sangenes funktion som fæl- samarbejde med komponisten og salmereformatoren Thomas Laub. De satte nye melodier til lessange er de blevet en fast del af repertoiret for danske amatørkor. Måske i højere grad nu end ældre danske digte, selv om flere af disse allerede havde melodier af andre komponister. Nielsen nogensinde før, fordi fællessangskulturen i Danmark er på retur. og Laub delte digtene imellem sig og udgav melodierne i en fælles samling, En Snes Danske Ars Nova synger her et bredt udvalg af Carl Nielsens højskolesange. Kun tre er Nielsens egne Viser, der udkom i to hæfter i 1915 og 1917. Projektet fik god presseomtale, ikke mindst da korudgaver (hans plan om at lave flere korversioner af de folkelige sange blev aldrig til noget), sangene blev præsenteret ved en nærmest konceptuel koncert, hvor sangsolisterne på scenen så dirigenten Michael Bojesen har overført Nielsens originale klaversatser fra Folkehøjskolens var iklædt hverdagstøj. Melodibog til firstemmig korsats. Der er altså ikke tale om kunstneriske bearbejdelser som 8 9 sådan. ”Lige netop Carl Nielsens sange skal man vare sig for at lave for meget om på, fordi Ars Nova Copenhagen blev grundlagt i 1979 og har forlængst etableret sig som et af verdens melodik og harmonik er så tæt forbundet”, siger Michael Bojesen, der i dag er en af Carl Nielsens fineste vokalensembler. Ensemblet ledes kunstnerisk af den anderkendte engelske dirigent efterfølgere som medredaktør af sangbogen. På den måde er de nye arrangementer et ret Paul Hillier, hvis mere end 150 indspilninger har vundet utallige internationale priser, heriblandt puritansk projekt, helt i Carl Nielsens ånd om enkelhed og ligefremhed. to Grammy Awards. Ars Nova har specialiseret sig i fortolkning af renæssancens polyfone For at forstå Carl Nielsens kunstneriske person er man nødt til at forstå de folkelige sange som kormusik og ny vokalmusik. Med en årlig koncertsæson i København, adskillige koncerter i det en integreret del af hans værk. Nogle gange er fusionen ligetil, f.eks. i Moderen, en forestilling fra øvrige Danmark og tilbagevendende turnéer verden over er gruppen i dag mere efterspurgt end 1921 om genforeningen med Sønderjylland, hvor Nielsen afslutter med den storslåede fædre- nogensinde. Ars Nova har indspillet mere end 30 CD’er, som har fået begejstrede anmeldelser landshymne Som en rejselysten flåde. Andre gange blander de folkelige melodier sig uden ord. Et i både den danske og den internationale musikpresse. Blandt de seneste udgivelser er ‘Creator direkte melodicitat finder man i variationssatsen fra Blæserkvintetten, mens sidste sats af Symfoni Spiritus’ med musik af Arvo Pärt, ‘The Story of Christmas’ (Harmonia Mundi) og ‘The Golden Age nr. 3 (“Sinfonia espansiva”) med sin hyldest til det daglige arbejde er en parafrase over den folke- of Danish Partsongs’ med musik af en række af de bedste danske vokalkomponister fra roman- lige sang som meloditype. Og selv i nogle af Carl Nielsens mest modernistiske værker, Klarinet tikken til i dag (Dacapo). Tidligere udgivelser omfatter portrætudgivelser af danske komponister koncerten og Symfoni nr. 6, dukker “folkelige” melodistumper op som kunstnerisk materiale. som Per Nørgård, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Ib Nørholm og Rued Langgaard; fire CD’er I 1920’erne blev Carl Nielsen bedt af sangkomponisten Thorvald Aagaard om at skrive en med Heinrich Schütz’ samlede fortællende værker til jul og påske, John Taverner & Tudor Music, ”folkesymfoni”, og selv om han lovede at gøre det, blev det heldigvis aldrig til noget. Det var vol. 1 & 2, og Terry Rileys 60’er-klassiker ‘In C’ og ‘The Little Match Girl Passion’ med musik af unødvendigt at skilte så tydeligt med sit ståsted, når nu det allerede kunne høres. ”Trænger man David Lang, som i 2010 blev tildelt en Grammy Award. ind til Grundcellen i mine Kompositioner, vil det sikkert vise sig, at denne Celle er den samme baade i de store Symfonier og i de smaa Viser. Det har dog faldet mange svært at forstaa”, Michael Bojesen er en alsidig kunstner både som komponist, dirigent og musikpædagog. Han sagde Nielsen i et avisinterview i 1928. har igennem sin karriere opbygget et renommé som en markant profil i dansk musikliv, særligt Man skal med andre ord ikke lede efter den radikale kunstners tonesprog i Carl Nielsens som dirigent. Michael Bojesen var i godt 10 år chefdirigent for DR PigeKoret, hos hvem han siden folkelige sange. Sagen forholder sig omvendt. Med hans højskolesange i ørerne – og på rygmar- sin fratræden i 2010 har båret titlen æresdirigent. Han har arbejdet tæt sammen med DR Voka- ven – bliver sammenhængen så åbenlys, at meget af hans øvrige produktion simpelthen får ”et lEnsemblet og Ars Nova Copenhagen samt med DR Big Bandet, DR UnderholdningsOrkestret, præg af det tilsyneladende velkendte.” DR SymfoniOrkestret og de danske landsdelsorkestre. Fra 1989-2006 var Bojesen dirigent for Kammerkoret Camerata, med hvem han indspillede en lang række CD’er, vandt flere internatio- © Jens Cornelius, 2014 nale priser og modtog en dansk grammy for årets bedste klassiske udgivelse i 1998. I september 2012 tiltrådte Michael Bojesen stillingen som direktør for Copenhagen Opera Festival. Herudover har han været lektor på Sankt Annæ Gymnasium, docent ved Det Kongelige Danske Musikkon- servatorium og var drivkraften bag DR korskolen. Bojesen var desuden medlem af 18. Udgave af Højskolesangbogens redaktionsudvalg, ligesom han var redaktør på Melodibogen. Hans store engagement i sang har blandt andet ført til gennemførelsen af Sangens År 2008 – samme år som han modtog “Den folkelige sangs pris”. 10 11 Nu er dagen fuld af sang Now the day is full of song Frydeligt med jubelkor Jubilation, shouts of glee (Jeppe Aakjær) (Jeppe Aakjær) (Morten Børup) (Morten Børup) Nu er dagen fuld af sang, Now the day is full of song, Frydeligt med jubelkor Jubilation, shouts of glee og nu er viben kommen, And now arrives the peewit, hilses vårens komme, Come with springtime greeting, bekkasinen natten lang While the snipe works all night long svalen melder trindt på jord: Swallows tell with certainty: håndterer elskovstrommen. His drum of love in free fit. “Frostens tid er omme!” Frost is now retreating! Plukke, plukke dugget strå, Picking, picking dewy straw Land og hav og lundens træ’r Land and sea and greenwood trees plukke, plukke siv ved å, Picking, picking rush galore, herligt prydes fjernt og nær, Far and near adorned to please, plukke, plukke blomster. Picking, picking flowers. – nye skabningsunder! New creation’s wonder! Kraft på ny vort legem får, Strength in ev’ry body part, Engen er nu gyldengul Now in bloom marsh marigolds lægt er nu vort hjertesår Healed is now each broken heart, af tunge kabbelejer, Make meadows golden yellow, i de glade stunder. Happiness hereunder. søndenvinden byder op, Willow-herbs the South enfolds og dueurten nejer. In dancing – what a fellow! Jordens rige blomsterpragt, Flower splendour of the earth, Plukke, plukke ... Picking, picking ... skovens grønne smykke, Forest decoration, fuglesangens tryllemagt Birdsong give us magic mirth, Dammen ligger dagen ud Day by day the pond salutes fylder os med lykke; Pleasure and elation; med brudelys i hænde, With flow’ring rush the sunlight, havets storme raser ud, Gales at sea subside, deplete, rækker højt de ranke skud, Stretching high the straightened shoots luften hærges ej af slud, Air no more is plagued by sleet, at solen må dem tænde. That everywhere have shone bright. duggens perler rene Pearls of dew in flushes Plukke, plukke ... Picking, picking ... samler solens stråleglans Gather radiance of the sun i en dejlig perlekrans Into strings, and one by one Nu vil mø med silkestik Now the maid with silken stitch rundt på græs og grene. Round the grass and rushes. på brudelinet sømme. Will make her linen ready; Den, som ingen bejler fik, She who could no man bewitch, Hvor dog Gud er god og viis! How Our Lord is good and wise! hun ta’r sig én i drømme. In dreams is going steady. Hvor er verden fager! How the world’s delightful! Plukke, plukke ... Picking, picking ... Hvor dog alt til Herrens pris How our minds and spirits prize ånd og tanke drager! That Our Lord is rightful! Ræk mig en forglemmigej Hand me a forget-me-not, Han har stort og småt på jord, Big and small He did create, og sidst en krusemynte, And last a curled mint, too. urten, som på marken gror, Every herb in fields to date sådan slutter vi vor leg Merry games our happy lot, form og farve givet. Shape and shade foreseeing. så glad, som den begyndte. Their pleasure will imprint you. Efter nat vi dagen nu Day has conquered night for good, Plukke, plukke ... Picking, picking ... 12 13 hilse vil med frejdig hu, Greet it in a cheerful mood, Kan de døde ej opstå, Can the dead not rise again, takke Gud for livet. Thanks to God for being. intet har vi at betyde, So we've lost our final meaning, visne må vi brat i vrå, We must wither swiftly when Påskeblomst! hvad vil du her? Easter bloom! Why are you here? ingen have skal vi pryde; Gardens without us are greening; (N.F.S. Grundtvig) (N.F.S. Grundtvig) glemmes skal vi under muld, Be forgotten under clay Påskeblomst! hvad vil du her? Easter bloom! Why are you here? vil ej vokset underfuld If not wax in wondrous way Bondeblomst fra landsbyhave Flowering for village peasant, smelte, støbes i det dunkle Melts, is cast as candles darkling, uden duft og pragt og skær! Scentless, modest you appear! og som lys på graven funkle. Lighted then on graves, a-sparkling. hvem er du velkommen gave? Anybody's welcome present? Hvem mon, tænker du, har lyst Who, imagine, might desire Påskeblomst! en dråbe stærk Easter bloom! A potent drink dig at trykke ømt til bryst? For you softly to suspire? drak jeg af dit gule bæger, From your yellow cup conveys me Mener du, en fugl tør vove Would a bird dare sing of flowers og som ved et underværk Quite a marvel and, I think, sang om dig i Danmarks skove? In this little land of ours? den mig hæver, vederkvæger: Will refresh me and will raise me: Hanegal og morgensang, Crowing cock and morning hymn Ej i liflig sommerluft Not in pleasant summer air synes mig, af den udsprang; Seemed to bubble from its brim; spired du på blomsterstade, Did you sprout from morning dozes, vågnende jeg ser de døde Wakening I shall see the perished ej så fik du rosens duft, With no lily leaves to wear, i en påske-morgenrøde. Throughout Easter dawn be cherished. ikke liljens sølverblade; With no balmy scent of roses; under vinterstorm og regn During winter rain and gale Ja, jeg ved, du siger sandt: Yes, I know the truth you tell: sprang du frem i golde egn, You came out from barren jail; Frelseren stod op af døde! The Redeemer has arisen! ved dit syn kun den sig fryder, Seeing you then, he’s elated Det er hver langfredags pant This is each Good Friday’s spell som har kær, hvad du betyder. Who loves all you’ve vindicated. på en påske-morgenrøde: Freed each Easter morn from prison: Hvad er segl og sværd og skjold What is seal and sword and shield Påskeblomst! men er det sandt: Easter bloom! But is it true: mod den Herre kæk og bold? ‘Gainst the valiant Lord, revealed? Har vi noget at betyde? Is our presence here a token? Avner kun, når han vil ånde, Only husks, if he respired, Er vor prædiken ej tant? Have our sermon any clue? han, som svor os bod for vånde. He whose penance was required. Kan de døde graven bryde? By the dead can graves be broken? Stod han op, som ordet går? Did he rise as says the Word? Vi sletternes sønner har drømme i sind We, sons of the plains carry dreams in our minds Mon hans ord igen opstår? Will his speech once more be heard? (Ludvig Holstein) (Ludvig Holstein) Springer klart af gule lagen Yellow shroud, is your arrival Vi sletternes sønner har drømme i sind, We, sons of the plains carry dreams in our minds, livet frem med påskedagen? Easter Sunday his revival? de vågner og bliver til sange, They turn into song when awaking, de stiger af sommernattågernes spind, They rise from the summer night mist of all kinds,

14 15 som lærkerne flyver af vange. Like skylark with flight in the making. O, trolddom i sommernattågernes spind! O, magic of summer night mists of all kinds! De brister af længsel en dag i april, They burst out from longing as spring’s on the run O, minder, som kogler og frister! O, memories, tempting, bewitching! som krokus og blå hyacinther, Like hyacinth, crocus unfolding, Vi sletternes sønner har drømme i sind, We, sons of the plains, carry dreams in our minds de bryder som vårsolens sejrende smil And break like victorious smiles of the sun og ved ikke selv, når de brister. And know not ourselves when they’re switching. igennem den smeltende vinter. The cold grip that winter is holding. De ligger og venter forløsningens stund They’ll wait for the hour when redemption will yield og længes at blive til sange, A yearning for joining the chorus, Så sejler de over det duftende land, Then over the redolent acres they sail som lærker i kløvermarktuernes bund, Like larks, nesting hidden in clover-patch field hvor vårsolen pibler af jorden, Where seeds out of spring soil can trickle, før dagningen lyser i vange. Ere dawn with its first light breaks o’er us. og hilser med jubel bag skovenes rand And passing the forest they gleefully hail den blinkende stribe af fjorden The bay that is twinkling, but fickle; Havet omkring Danmark Seas surrounding Denmark og skælver i forårets fløjtende lyd, They tremble in April’s most wonderful tone, (L.C. Nielsen) (L.C. Nielsen) som triller fra haver og lunde, In gardens and woods they would quaver Havet omkring Danmark, vort moderlige hav, Seas surrounding Denmark, our wide, maternal seas, og stjæler letsindigt forventningens fryd While taking the hopeful delight from unknown blåt som vore øjne og blidt som vore drømme, Blue as eyes of children, a bland and dreamlike story, fra løndomsfuldt smilende munde. And reticent smiles as a favour. – minderige strømme, som stryger mildt – Currents in their glory, caressing from southwest. – mod kyst. – Longing for you lives in our breast! Og segner blandt blomster i majnattens favn, Embracing the evening of May that’s in bloom Længsel har du lagt i vort bryst! We’ll wander your way, your laws we shall feel; som brister på skrænter og grene, On branches and hillsides, they tumble, Vi vandrer din vej, vi lyder din lov, We’ll plough your rolling meadows with every og hvisker i duggen den elskedes navn, And into the dewdrops the name, we assume, vi pløjer dine enge med kølens ranke plov. even keel. du rene, du eneste ene. Of only the loved one they mumble. Du vugger os i verden, så vide som vi vil. – You bear us o’er the oceans as far and wide we will. Det er ikke morgen, det er ikke nat, This is not the morning, this is not the night, Dig elsker vi, o hav, og dig vi hører til! We love you mighty seas belonging to you still. sært tankerne vildes i tågen, Odd thoughts in the brume have been shaken. højt hamrer et hjerte, og fjernt i sit krat A heart will be pounding, and way out of sight Havet omkring Danmark, vort moderlige hav, Seas surrounding Denmark, our wide, maternal seas, er sommernatsangeren vågen. The summer night’s singer will waken. gråt som vore vilkår og grønt som vore løfter, Grey as our condition and green as vows – skumbesatte kløfter, som kløver ø fra ø, – we’ve taken Hr. Oluf red over elverbro Sir Oluf rode cross the bridge of elves, dådfuldt har du lært os at dø! – Gaps from spray unshaken, a-cleaving isle i midsommernatten den hvide, One midsummer’s night; they were sliding, Vi vandrer din vej ... from isle, – da snubled hans ganger på fire guldsko. – Four horseshoes all glistening golden themselves Teaching us to die with a smile! Hr. Oluf, hvorhen vil I ride? – Sir Oluf, say, where are you riding? We’ll wander your way … Hvorhen vil I ride før morgenens skær, Whereto will you ride before glimmer of dawn, og hvor er I fostret og båret, And where were you bred by your mother, Havet omkring Danmark, du moderlige hav, Seas surrounding Denmark, you wide, maternal seas, og hvem har I diet, og hvem har I kær, And whom did you suck and to whom were stridt som vore viljer og stolt som vore sejre, stubborn like our willpow’r, as proud as our hvor blev eders kjortel skåret? you drawn, successes, Your kirtle’s from where? Why bother? 16 17 – brynjeklædte lejre, som larmer under strand. – – coat of mail impresses like clamour on the strand. – Nu skal det åbenbares This is the revelation Hæder skal vi høste vort land! Glory shall we bring this old land! (N.F.S. Grundtvig) (N.F.S. Grundtvig) Vi vandrer din vej ... We’ll wander your way … Nu skal det åbenbares, This is the revelation at gammel kærlighed That lasting love is cleared I solen går jeg bag min plov In shining sun I steer my plough i hver en skærsild klares In all ordeals’ purgation, (Ludvig Holstein) (Ludvig Holstein) og er for rust i fred. No rust therefore appeared; I solen går jeg bag min plov. In shining sun I steer my plough. For levende og døde To living and preceding Jeg nikker til den grønne skov I’m nodding to the greenwood now, kan daners hjerter bløde, Can Danish hearts be bleeding, hvor du, min lykke, gemmer dig. Where you, my fortune, hide today. men isne kan de ej! Yet never running cold. Mit hjerte ler og gemmer sig My heart will laugh and hide away og gemmer sin lyksalighed, And hide its bliss behind a frown, End lever kærligheden, Thus love is no absconder, til sol går ned, til sol går ned. Till sun goes down, till sun goes down. som aldrig skal forgå, Will never pass away, men klare sig herneden But clear itself down yonder Min lykke vågner ung og ny My fortune wakens young and new til livet at forstå, To fathom life some day, som lærkesang ved morgengry. Like skylark song to morning dew, til klart ham at begribe, To understand Him clearly Hver aftenstund den smykker sig. Each evening an embellishment, der evig er i live, Who is alive sincerely, Men kun for mig du smykker dig. Though just for me as relish sent. som kærligheden selv. Forever love itself. Og nætternes lyksalighed The bliss of nightly scenery er dagens gyldne hem’lighed. Is day-long, golden secrecy. Så er da ikke brustet So it has never broken, ”fuldkommenhedens bånd”, Perfection’s timeless band, Min lykke siges ej med ord. My fortune tells without a word. vor kæde er ej rustet, Our chain to God a token Den stråler dyb og rig og stor It sparkles deeply rich, unstirred, den bryder ingen hånd, No rust may break, no hand, i blikket, som hun sender mig. In glances that she sends to me. men af hvert led udspringer But from each link a flower Min lykke, der jeg kender dig My fortune! I attend to thee en blomst med fuglevinger Will burst with pinions’ power og mig og vor lyksalighed, And me and all our blissful ease til gyldenårets krans. To greet the Gilded Age. som ingen ved, som ingen ved. That no one sees, that no one sees. Ja, kæden af kærminder The chain is a reminder Jeg pløjer op det gode muld, I plough up fields of fertile mould, man sagtens prise tør: Like that forget-me-not; men ingen ser det gyldne guld, But no one sees the shining gold jo stærkere den binder, A strong and willing binder; som i mit hjerte gemmer sig. That in my heart would hide away. des friere den gør, May freedom be your lot; Jeg gemmer mig, jeg gemmer dig, I hide myself, I hide my play, jo længer den mon vare, So hope for its endurance, jeg gemmer vor lyksalighed, I hide our bliss behind a frown, des mindre står den fare, From danger an assurance, til sol går ned, til sol går ned. Till sun goes down, till sun goes down. des gyldnere den bli’r. And more its gold will show. 18 19 Man længe nok må sige, You say in sheer indulgence ud fra vort hverdagsbur, From workday cage and crew, at kærlighed er blind, That love can make one blind, fjernt fra dets fangetremmer Far from their lack of choices det bli’r dog lysets rige, In kingdom of effulgence at finde dig, natur! To find you, nature, too! hvor ret den strømmer ind. The contrary you find; Og han har aldrig levet, The man has ne’er existed Den frihed, som vi savner This freedom, gone amissing som klog på det er blevet, Who in the end untwisted bag byens mur og tag, In crowded town too soon, han først ej havde kær. That which he ne’er held dear! på åben mark vi favner On open fields we’re kissing en solglad junidag; Some sunny day in June; Fra arildstid her inde In here since ancient ages så skære er dens kinder Its cheeks are always tender vi elsked ”liv og fred”, We loved our peace, our lives, som æbleblomstens blad, As apple petal’s hue, og hos vor dannekvinde And by our wives in stages og om dens hår sig vinder And round its hair in splendour vi elsked kærlighed, Our love for love arrives; dugdråbers perlerad. Are wound the pearls of dew. så, er den livets gåde, If this is life’s great question, den sikkert bedst vil råde It is the best suggestion Du lyse, friske sommer! Thou bright, refreshing summer, fuldvoksne dannemænd. To full-grown Danish men. vor friheds unge brud, Our freedom’s youthful bride! fra støv og støj vi kommer With dust and din we’re number; Ny lyser løv i lunde The greenwood leaves are light now til fred og stilhed ud. Now peace and calm preside. (Johannes Jørgensen) (Johannes Jørgensen) Vort liv til lyst du vende In sunlit days you’re fetching Ny lyser løv i lunde, The greenwood leaves are light now, på dagens solskinsfelt, For us our lives’ delights, grønt ligger Danmarks land And Denmark’s verdant field og over os du spænde Above us all you’re stretching imellem blanke sunde, ‘Tween glitt’ring sounds is right now de lyse nætters telt! The tent of northern nights! et skjold med sølver rand; A silver-edgèd shield; frugtblomsters hvide pletter The blossoms’ white is dotting Se dig ud en sommerdag Look about one summer day det rige, grønne felt, The scen’ry with its lights, (Jeppe Aakjær) (Jeppe Aarkjær) mens højt de lyse nætter While stars above are spotting Se dig ud en sommerdag, Look about one summer day, slår ud sit sommertelt. The tent of northern nights. når de bønder tromler: See the farmers rolling: Land æfor og by æbag, Land afore and town away, Nu løses fugletunger Released is now the bird’s tongue lærkesang og humler, Lark and bee patrolling, af vinterdødens band, From winter’s death and ban, byg i skred og bær i blost, Barley’s earing, berries grow, et solskinskor de sjunger A sunshine choir is heard long barneleg om frønnet post, Toddlers frisking to-and-fro, i skovens frie land; – In woods by everyman; – rugens dræ med duft af most Flow’ring rye, a scent you know, de kalder os, de stemmer, They summon us, those voices, i drift om brede gårde! Around the farms is drifting!

20 21 Danmark er et lidet land, Denmark is a little land, stemningsfyldt som hejreflugt – Wondrous like the heron flight strakt fra nord til sønder, All the way it’s thorough, om kvæld, når sol går under. As evening sun is setting. har dog brød til alle mand, Thus provides for every hand købstadfolk som bønder. In its field and borough. Frihed er det bedste guld Freedom is the purest gold Rugen med det svulne knæ Rye is with its swollen knee (Thomas af Strängnäs) (Thomas of Strängnäs) vokser langt i bakkens læ, Growing high in hillock’s lee, Frihed er det bedste guld, Freedom is the purest gold humlekop og pæretræ Cone of hop and apple tree som sol bestråler over muld, The sun will shine upon, behold får sol mod hvide gavle. Get sun by chalky gables. lad den dit smykke være! This gem of yours forever. Ja, dersom du dig selv har kær, Protect it well for it is worth Færgen med det brede bryst, Ferries with a broader breast, da hold den mer end livet værd! Far more than all your life on earth; klædt i stål og plade, Clad in steel and plated, Thi frihed følger ære. Thus, freedom craves endeavour. pløjer vej fra kyst til kyst Plough and ply ‘tween east and west over bælters flade. ‘Cross the belts, awaited. Frihed er en borgemur, Freedom is a castle wall Kobberspir og tag af tegl Copper spires, roofs in tiles hvor modet støder højt i lur Where lur of courage sounds the call ser sig selv i havets spejl, See themselves for mirrored miles; mod alle fjender gramme. And ghastly foes have raided; langvejs ude hvide sejl Far away the greenwood isles Sig du dem kækt ved porten: ”Stop!” From there you tell them bravely, “Stop!” mod grønne øer bovner. Will watch the white sails’ swelling. kun fejghed lukker porten op Mere cowards let the drawbridge drop og lister bort med skamme. And slip away, degraded. Toget stønner tungt af sted, Here the train will groan along, højt sig røgen løfter, Smoke is rising higher; Frihed er en stad så skøn, Freedom is a lovely town, plagen står ved vangeled, At a gate the colt gets strong, hvor enigheden bor i løn, Consent a matter of renown slår sig løs og snøfter. Canters, snorting shyer. og nabo smukt sig føjer, Where neighbours give in nicely, Hyrden kobler sine kø’r, Herdsmen couple cows a-tie, hvor så man skatter egen arv, And each so treasures their bequest aftensuk i siv og rør, Rush and brush let evening sigh; at alle ser på næstens tarv, That all protect each other best fra den åbne smededør From the blacksmith’s door will fly og ingen retten bøjer. And follow rules precisely. går lange skumrings-gnister. Long-lasting sparks at gloaming. Frihed er det gyldne skjold Freedom is the golden shield Slider byen, danske mand, If the towns do wear you, Dane, mod avind, list og overvold, When sword of righteousness you wield alt for stærkt din trøje, And your clothes too greatly, hvor retsind fører sværdet. Against the cunning power, tag et mål af Danmarks land Look at Denmark’s land again Bag den kan fredens ranker gro, To let the vine of peace bear fruit, fra dets egne høje: From its hills – how stately: men hvor den ej kan fæste bo, But if it cannot set its root, Synet, fjernt af banker lukt, Closed by heights at times, the sight må freden fly forfærdet. No peace will ever flower. bliver frit mod bælt og bugt Now discovers belt and bight 22 23 Frihed er som fugl i hånd Freedom is a bird you find under vejrs og vindes nåde With a dream of hidden highlands, med moders røst og fædres ånd, With mother’s voice and father’s mind, ligger landet dybt i ro. Keen on trav’lling far from here. hold fast om fuglens vinge! Take heed and hold this flyer; Hårdt går hav mod bro og stavn, Hamm’ring hard at stems, the sea Kun galgenfugl dig bilder ind, If any rogue makes you believe møder Danmarks stille navn. Meets with Denmark’s name alee. at, når den fløj for vejr og vind, Its flight is not beyond retrieve, Hør, hvor blidt det klinger! Oh, its tone is tender! kan han igen den bringe. He is a graceless liar. Hvor vi stod, og hvor vi gik, Where we stood, where’er we came, kom dit navn som sød musik Did the music of thy name Frihed er en kongehøg, Freedom is a royal hawk, blødt på hvide vinger. Make our minds surrender. der stak i sky, når bort den fløj, When fled afar, your sweetest talk forgæves du den lokker. Elicits not its sally; Havombruset yngler landet. Seas a-roaring, land a-breeding, Din fred og glæde følger med, And with it happiness and peace, Tusind øer gik af havn, Many islands sailed away alt som den flyver langt af led, It bears away, beyond release, lod sig bære bort af vandet, On the ocean’s wave while feeding mens ørnene sig flokker. While scores of eagles rally. for at bære Danmarks navn. Denmark to the present day. Muntert frem til livets dyst Onward through a lifelong fight, Frihed er en dejlig brud, Freedom is a beauteous bride gennem mulm og strålelyst. Whether murk or noonday light. som vil dig følge ind og ud, Who travels with you open-eyed; Hil jer vore skibe! Hail the ships! Be greeted! elsk hende højt med ære! Respect and love her dearly! Flaget blaffer rødt og hvidt. Flags a-flutter, red and white. Når hende du til hustru får, And when you take her as your wife Her er Danmark, dit og mit, This is Denmark, feel the might da ages herligt læs i gård, A splendid harvest fills your life, med sin kølvandsstribe. Of its wake repeated. thi alt hun vil dig være. She’ll nourish you sincerely. Hav og muld skal dansken pløje. Sea and soil the Danes will furrow. Frihed er en sikker havn, Freedom is the safest port, Venner! Hvad vi fik for muld! Friends! How splendid is our mould! vend altid kun mod den din stavn, Set course for there, the last resort Bølgelandets runde høje Undulating barrows thorough da er du frelst af fare. When hope has nearly vanished. tavlet ud i grønt og guld. Scen’ry chequered green and gold. For kongeskib og mindste båd There regal vessel, simple boat Lærken klatrer fra sin seng Skylark climbing from his bed, har den mod storm og bølge råd, Will find a haven, safe afloat, i den morgenvåde eng Up his Jacob’s ladder led den alle vil bevare. Where all distress is banished. ad sin jakobsstige. O’er the dew-soaked heather. Men de lyse nætters skær By the gleam of northern night Som en rejselysten flåde There’s a fleet of floating islands over stille bøgetræer Over beeches, silent sight, (Helge Rode) (Helge Rode) åbner himmerige. Heaven sings together. Som en rejselysten flåde There’s a fleet of floating islands ankret op ved Jyllands bro Anchored up by Jutland’s pier

24 25 Hør det! Husk det, alle danske! Keep that mem’ry, see it, hear it: Udrundne er de gamle dage Gone are the days, they’re past and olden Klar og frodig er vor ånd. Clear and fervent is our mind. (N.F.S. Grundtvig) (N.F.S. Grundtvig) Sproget slutter som en handske Fitting is the speech and spirit Udrundne er de gamle dage Gone are the days, they’re past and olden, om en fast og venlig hånd. Hand-in-glove, both firm and kind. som floder i det store hav, Like rivers in a sea of waves, Værn med vid, hvad helt er vort. Guard with wit what shall remain. og hvor sig hviler nu den svage, And where the weakling now is holden, Sig kun sandhed, jævnt og kort, Tell the truth, but short and plain, dér fandt den stærke og sin grav; There, too, the strong have found their graves; gladest ved det milde. Happy with its mildness. men lovet være Himlens Gud! But, praise the Lord in heaven high! Danskens lov i strid og fred Old king Volmer laid the trust: de ædles æt dør aldrig ud. The nobles’ line will never die! være ret og billighed, Danish law is fair and just, som kong Volmer ville. Contrary to wildness. Mens graven kastes, vuggen gynger, Grave is filled in, while cradle’s rocking, og liv udsletter dødens spor, And life effaces trace of Death; Vinterklart og sommerbroget, Winter-bright and summer-coloured, så immer sig igen forynger So noble souls again are flocking, morgenmuntert, skumringssvøbt, Morning-merry, twilight-swept, hver ædel slægt i syd og nord, Each with rejuvenated breath, ligefremt og latterkroget, Lashing-straight and laughter-hollered, og mindet, som Guds miskundhed, And mem’ry, like God’s mercy, will smilbestrålet, tåredøbt. Smile-illumèd, sorrow-wept. forplanter sig i tusind led. Be spread for endless ages still. Det er Danmarks frie sprog, This is how we freely spoke, uden tryk af fremmed åg Unrestrained by foreign yoke, Så lad derpå da syn os fæste, Then let our eyes rest on that vision frejdig Freja taler. Freya’s words reminding. hvad ædle kaldte livets lyst! That nobles called our life’s delight! Eget brød til egen dug, Bake the bread your own shall eat; Ja, lad os kappes med de bedste Yea, let us vie with best precision Danmarks hvede, Danmarks rug, Denmark’s rye and Denmark’s wheat og vove kækt med død en dyst! And challenge Death in gallant fight! Dybbøl mølle maler. Dybbøl mill is grinding. At byde den og graven trods To brave the grave and him we plead kan med Guds hjælp og lykkes os. For God’s support, and shall succeed. Om din frihed vil vi værne, We’ll protect your independence holde skjoldvagt om din fred, And your peace in gallant toil, Der sad en fisker så tankefuld There sat a fisherman deep in thought ofre dig en moden kerne Reap in free and full attendance (N.F.S. Grundtvig) (N.F.S. Grundtvig) fra din jord i tusind led. Grain from your eternal soil. Der sad en fisker så tankefuld There sat a fisherman deep in thought Indånd Nordens frie luft, Breathe the breezes of the North, og hørte på Herrens tale; On words that the Lord was saying, stilhed sød af blomsterduft, Flower-sweetened ever forth, så klang i øret ej sølv og guld, From gold or silver they were not wrought, storm, som søen salter, Storms that make them salter. ej sangen i havfrusale; Nor music from mermaid’s playing; medens vi med trofast sind Thus, a faithful life we lead på fiskerkvasen vor Herre sad, There on the well smack he sat, Our Lord, sætter al vor gerning ind, Sacrificing all our deed, og folk i mængde som blomst og blad And crowds of people with one accord Danmark, på dit alter! Denmark, at your altar! de lytted i land til ordet. Ashore, to the Word they hearkened.

26 27 “Nu, Simon!” sagde Gud Faders Ord, Now, Simon! patiently spake the Lord, Vor Herre så til den synder mildt, Our Master looked at this sinner well, “da prædiken hans var ude, His sermon already ended, og sagde: “vær kun ej bange! And uttered, Be not affrighted! læg alle årer nu fluks om bord, Put straightway now all your oars on board jeg vil dig lære herefter snildt I’ll simply teach you to catch and tell dem lystrer jo vel din skude. And row as your boat’s intended; lyslevende folk at fange.” – Those people alive, benighted. – Far ud på dybet, og drag en dræt! Out on the water and haul a seine, “Hvad vil du, Herre! det er et ord,” Is that true, Master! you have my word, Det er på tiden, om jeg ser ret, If I am right, it is not in vain, så råbte Simon og sprang fra bord, Cried Simon jumping – and undeterred – mig lyster med dig at følge.” – I’d like us to go together! fra alt hvad end sit han kaldte! From all of his past possessions.

“Ja, læremester,” han svared brat, Aye, Master! sudden was his reply, Så fulgte Simon vor Herres kald, Thus Simon followed his Master’s call, “det kunne vi godt behøve, It’s all that we ever needed, hos ordet gik han i skole, The Word was his education, vi sled forgæves den hele nat, We toiled for nothing the whole night by, og folk han fanged i tusindtal, And he caught souls by the thousands, all dit ord er dog værd en prøve!” Your Word will not pass unheeded! de skinne nu klart som sole, Now shining in His creation; For tvivl var Simon slet ikke fri, From doubt was Simon not free at all, og end er ikke på jord forbi On earth that fishing of men will tend men spejl, du tvivler, dig smukt deri: But follow, doubter, his lead and call! det store menneskefiskeri, To grow and never to reach an end Han gjorde, som Herren sagde. He did as the Lord did tell him. som Herren og Simon grunded. Which Simon with God had founded.

Sin dont han passed, og vod han trak, His plied his trade and he hauled and dragged, Du danske mand! af al din magt Sing, Danish man! With all your might men fandt, det var over magten; But found it beyond his powers, (Holger Drachmann) (Holger Drachmann) hans skude nikked, og voddet sprak, The boat it faltered, the seine got shagged, Du danske mand! af al din magt Sing, Danish man! With all your might så overhånds stor var dragten. It got out of hand for hours; syng ud om vor gamle mor! In praise of our mother, sing! Da vinked Simon ad venner tro, Then Simon beckoned his compeers true, En krans af hav og fjord blev lagt The sea and bay in blue and white og fiskeladning fik skuder to, A load of fish for one boat, nay two, om huset, hvor hun bor: Her house will always ring: så færdig de var at synke. Had both on the point of sinking. Mod grønne, side strande The forceful ocean reaches går stærke, stride vande, T’ward verdant coasts and beaches, Der Simon Fisker det jærtegn så, As Simon noted this portent there og over kornets guldglans And over golden corn fields da Jesus han faldt til fode To Jesus at once submitted, står vikingestenen vagt! Stands Viking menhir upright! og sagde: “Herre, du fra mig gå! Said he, Oh Lord, leave me anywhere, Jeg er ikke af de gode. I’m definitely unfitted: Syng ud! – og sorg fra fortids nat Sing out, may grief from passing night O, lå jeg rolig kun under muld, Oh, were I under the lenient sod, bli’r smil på hver glædesdag, Be joy with each happy day, Gud bedre mig, jeg er syndefuld, Be merciful, I’m a sinner, God! vor himmel skifter farve brat, Our sky will change its colours’ bright, nu falder det mig på hjerte.” It troubles my humble heart so. men aldrig folkets flag. But ne’er our flag, we say. Som Danmarks blide kvinder As girls bespeak you, blushing

28 29 har røde-hvide kinder, In rosy cheeks’ new flushing, I det høje! I det høje! Lofty dreaming! Lofty dreaming! så lyser livets friskhed The way to freedom’s treasure lyder det dig mere smukt? Is that beautiful somehow? fra frihedens dyre skat, The freshness of life will light. Funkler sværmerisk dit øje? Is your proud flight only seeming? finder verden stolt din flugt? Are your eyes perfervid now? Vort gamle land! af al vor magt Our ancient land! with all our might, Vil du ej dit hoved bøje Will you think it is redeeming, vi øger din rigdoms ring, Increasing your ways and means under livets strenge tugt, If you do not mean to bow! går fremad sejgt og uforsagt, We’ll stride along, in ample fight vil du ikke marken pløje, Will you harvest what is teeming, om ej i store spring. Though not through greater scenes. før du høster markens frugt? If you do not want to plough? Og furer ploven landet, As steely ploughs do furrow, så skurer kølen vandet: So keels at sea are thorough: Ak, den kunst er tung at lære, Oh, this art is hard to master, Støt står den danske sømand The Danish hand stands steady, dyrkes kun af såre få, Practised by the very few, på havet sin viking-vagt. A Viking on watch all right. den uendelige svære, Namely one immensely vaster, den: på jorden fast at stå, This: a full life carried through, På det jævne, på det jævne Simple-rooted, simple-rooted! den: sin himmel med at bære This: your heaven to grow faster (H.V. Kaalund) (H.V. Kaalund) overalt i hjertets vrå, In your heart, and to pursue På det jævne, på det jævne, Simple-rooted, simple-rooted! den: sin skaber glad at ære This: avoiding all disaster – ikke i det himmelblå, – – Never in the high blue sky! – i det store, i det små. You’ll adore your Maker, too! dér har livet sat dig stævne, This is where you’ve been recruited, dér skal du din prøve stå! Where you prove your worth thereby! På det jævne skal du bygge, Simple-rooted in your being, Alt, hvad herligt du kan nævne, All the splendour you’ve saluted, på det jævne skal du bo, Simple-rooted must you build; alt, hvad højt din sjæl kan nå, All the peaks your soul would try, ej som krøbling, ej på krykke, Not a crutchy cripple fleeing, skal hernede på det jævne Here below be simple-rooted, ej med dyrets dorske ro! Not a creature, idle-willed; fast sin rod i livet slå. All your life to signify. Med dit savn og med din lykke, Need or happiness foreseeing, med dit håb og med din tro With your faith and hopes fullfilled Kommer ned – se, det er tingen! – Coming down, look, here’s the matter! skal du på det jævne bygge May you, simple-rooted being, dale glad som fugl fra sky, Blithe descent like birds at morn, op til stjernerne en bro. Build a star bridge and be thrilled! når med sang den sænker vingen When with lowered wings they chatter, – ikke falde tung som bly! – Never drop as lead is drawn! På det jævne! På det jævne! Simple-rooted! Simple-rooted! komme ned og slutte ringen: Coming down, avoid the scatter; Altid i min sjæl det klang, I remembered all along, være glad i kvæld og gry, Happy both at dusk and dawn, når med fantasiens evne As with whimsy undiluted elske verden, hade ingen, Hating no one, love the clatter, kækt jeg mig fra jorden svang. I would float o’er earthly throng. føle sig som født på ny. Feel as if you’re newly born! Alt det andet vil sig hævne, All the rest can be disputed,

30 31 er kun splid og undergang. Whether strife or deadly wrong. lærkens sang og bækkens brusen, – Skylark song with brook replying, – – på det jævne! På det jævne! – Simple-rooted! Simple-rooted! alt er kunstens lærebog. All the textbook of the arts. Det er livets sejerssang. That is life’s triumphant song! Tunge, mørke natteskyer Heavy, gloomy clouds of night Derfor kan vort øje glædes Wherefore do our eyes feel pleasure (Jakob Knudsen) (Jakob Knudsen) (Christian Richardt) (Christian Richardt) Tunge, mørke natteskyer Heavy, gloomy clouds of night, Derfor kan vort øje glædes Wherefore do our eyes feel pleasure op ad himlen drager, Drawing nigh in welter, ved et billeds farvepragt; At a painting’s coloured stir; hjem til skovs af marken fly’r In the woods a hidden site, thi det lys, hvori det klædes, For its light is apt to measure hist de sorte krager; Crows in black to shelter. er naturens egen dragt; Nature’s costume as it were; skumringen sig breder ud, Twilight spreading far and wide, det er mørkt omsider. As the night is falling. og den sten, hvis skønhed strålte, And that stone, of glamour portion, Vær os nær, du kære Gud, Through the night, dear God, abide formet af en mesters hånd, Shaped by skillful master’s hand, medens natten lider! By us when we’re calling! den blev skøn, fordi han målte Measured in its true proportion med vor skabers målebånd. By our Maker’s tape, is grand. Vær mig nær, thi uden dig Stay nearby, for without you ensomhed mig truer; I shall be rejected! Derfor rørtes vi og vaktes Wherefore are we moved, and waken vær mig nær, thi uden dig Stay nearby, for without you ved en digters favre ord; At a poet’s splendid spree; jeg for mørket gruer! Darkness is expected! thi de druer, som os raktes, For those grapes that can be taken, Hold mig med din faderhånd, Hold me by that father’s hand var fra livets rige bord, Are from life’s abundant tree; så jeg dig fornemmer; I forever cherish! fri mig ud af mørkets bånd, Set me free from night-time’s band, derfor vugged os i drømme Wherefore it is all-embracing så min frygt jeg glemmer! Then my fear will perish! tonedybets havfrusang; Resonance of mermaid song, thi af hjertets kildestrømme For our heart-blood rises, racing Lad mig føle, hver gang når Let me feel that every time svulmed jo dets bølgegang. Where its billows swell along. livet blir mig øde, Life becomes forsaken, at du, Fader, hos mig står, Such a trouble, Father, I’m Alt, som ejer livets lue: All that holds creation’s ardour: og i sådan møde; Freed from, and unshaken! rosens blus og havets blå, Blaze of roses, oceans’ blue, og når natten i mit bryst When the night within my breast skovens hvælv og brynets bue, Forest vault and eyes arched harder, hjertet vil omlejre, This old heart’s enfolding, læbens fine folder små, Lips a-wrinkled as a clue, o, da skænk mig livsens trøst, Oh, let comfort be my guest, vind mig lysets sejre! Daylight’s trophy holding! tankens hemmeligste susen, Utmost thoughts in secret sighing, elskovsblikkets tavse sprog, Silent language locked in hearts, 32 33 Tung og mørk den tavse nat Heavy, gloomy, silent night hvis øje står i vand, – Whose eyes are all a-soak, – over jorden spænder, All the earth has covered, det er såmænd Jens Vejmand It’s poor old John the roadman, hist kun bag et vindve mat Yonder at a window’s site med halm om ben og knæ, His legs strapped up with hay, vågelys der brænder. Watch lights only hovered. der næppe ved at finde Who barely finds a shelter Du, som lindrer sorg og nød, You, relieving need and woe, mod frosten mer et læ. To keep the frost at bay. al vor synd forlader, Evil’s liberator, lyser op den mørke død, Brighten dreadful death, I know, Og vender du tilbage If then you are returning tak, du lysets Fader! Thank you, light’s creator! i byger og i blæst, In bluster you detest, mens aftenstjernen skælver The evening star is shiv’ring Hvem sidder der bag skærmen Who’s there behind the shelter af kulde i sydvest, From cold above southwest; (Jeppe Aakjær) (Jeppe Aakjær) og klinger hammerslaget You hear the hammer ringing Hvem sidder der bag skærmen Who’s there behind the shelter bag vognen ganske nær, – Quite close behind the pair, – med klude om sin hånd, With rags around his hands, det er såmænd Jens Vejmand, It’s poor old John the roadman med læderlap for øjet A home-made leather eye-patch som endnu sidder der. At work, still sitting there. og om sin sko et bånd, And shoes in lashèd bands? det er såmænd Jens Vejmand, It’s poor old John the roadman, Så jævned han for andre He levelled thus for others der af sin sure nød Starvation’s gloom ahead, den vanskelige vej, The rough and rocky way, med hamren må forvandle Who turns with his old hammer men da det led mod julen, But drawing near to yuletide, de hårde sten til brød. Unyielding stones to bread. da sagde armen nej; His arm gave up the fray; det var såmænd Jens Vejmand, Yes, that was John the roadman, Og vågner du en morgen You wake one early morning han tabte ham’ren brat, His hammer dropped from sight. i allerførste gry At dawn’s first light, and then de bar ham over heden They bore him ‘cross the heath og hører hamren klinge You hear the hammer ringing en kold decembernat. On a cold December night. påny, påny, påny, Again, again, again; det er såmænd Jens Vejmand It’s poor old John the roadman Der står på kirkegården It’s standing at the churchyard – på sine gamle ben, With old and ailing bones, et gammelt frønnet bræt; An old and rotten board; som hugger vilde gnister He hacks till sparks fly wildly det hælder slemt til siden, And all its paint is peeling, af morgenvåde sten. From moistened morning stones. og malingen er slet. It’s very badly shored. Det er såmænd Jens Vejmands. Now here lies John the roadman. Og ager du til staden When plodding to the city Hans liv var fuldt af sten, His life of stones is done, bag bondens fede spand, Behind the farmer’s yoke, men på hans grav – i døden, But on this paltry grave here og møder du en olding, You chance upon an oldster man gav ham aldrig én. They gave him ne’er a one.

34 35 Betragt mit svage spind Behold my web, how frail Al Sjællands ynde og Jyllands vælde, All Zealand’s grace and all Jutland’s powers, (Adam Oehlenschläger) (Adam Oehlenschläger) de tvende klange af blidt og hårdt, The cloven timbre of mild and tough, Betragt mit svage spind, Behold my web, how frail skal sangen rumme for ret at melde Our song must have these respective towers, hvor trådene sig flette! The threads are finely plaited! om, hvad der inderst er os og vort. For us to feel it is good enough. Den allermindste vind A puff, and then the veil Og tider skifter, og sæder mildnes, As times are changing our manners mellow, kan alt i hast udslette: Will be annihilated: men kunst og kamp kræver stadig stål, But struggling arts crave a spine of steel; Et ringe billed kun A feeble picture, though, det alterbål, hvor vor sjæl skal ildnes In altar fires flaming white and yellow, på almagtsvælde stor. Of omnipotent might. det flammer hedest i Bjarkemål. The legends’ forge shall our souls anneal. hør i din bitre stund Through bitter moment’s woe mit stille trøstens ord! Consoling words I cite! Så syng da, Danmark, lad hjertet tale, Let Denmark sing! Make its heart outspoken, thi hjertesproget er vers og sang, For heartfelt language is song and verse, Giv på min gerning agt! Take heed of this my deed! og lære kan vi af nattergalen, The nightingale is thereof a token Så sidder hist den høje On high he is residing af lærken over den grønne vang. Like skylarks gathering to rehearse. i centret af sin magt So mighty in his lead, Og blæsten suser sin vilde vise, The high wind whistles its wrathful ditty, med et opmærksomt øje!. His eyes intently guiding! og stranden drøner sit højtidskvad, The shoreline booms out its solemn song; Han drager, som han vil, He pulls the thread at will fra hedens lyng som fra stadens flise From heather moor as from crowded city snart tråden ud, snart ind; Now out, but then now in, skal sangen løfte sig ung og glad. The song still rises forever young. han lægger mærke til Observing, oh so still, det allermindste spind. My tiny web begin.

Den danske sang er en und blond pige The Danish song is a fair young maiden (Kai Hoffmann) (Kai Hoffmann) Den danske sang er en ung blond pige The Danish song is a fair young maiden hun går og nynner i Danmarks hus, A-humming all through the nation’s hall, hun er et barn af det havblå rige Of deep blue offspring, emotion-laden, hvor bøge lytter til bølgers brus. Where beech tree hearkens the billows call. Den danske sang når den dybest klinger, The Danish song with its passion racing, har klang af klokke, af sværd og skjold. A bell resounding, the battle’s chime, I mod os bruser på brede vinger It floods our senses, all thought embracing, en saga tone fra hedenold. A saga’s echo from heathen time.

36 37 d Recorded at Gl. Vor Frue Kirke (Old Church of Our Lady), Roskilde, on 8-10 May 2014 Recording producer and sound engineer: Preben Iwan Mix and mastering: Preben Iwan ℗ & © 2014 Dacapo Records, Copenhagen Liner notes: Jens Cornelius English translation of liner notes: James Manley English translation of song texts: © Holger Scheibe Proofreader: Svend Ravnkilde Photos p. 38: © Ditte Capion Artwork: Denise Burt, www.elevator-design.dk Publisher: The Carl Nielsen Edition – Edition Wilhelm Hansen, www.ewh.dk All songs on this release are presented in new four-part settings by Michael Bojesen, based on Carl Nielsen’s original piano parts from Folkehøjskolens Melodibog (the Folk High School Melody Book) – except for , , and which are Nielsen’s own choral arrangements. Dacapo and Ars Nova acknowledge, with gratitude, the financial support of Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie- Carl Nielsens Legat, Etatsraad Georg Bestle og Hustrus Mindelegat, and Det Obelske Familiefond

Ars Nova Copenhagen, 2013

ARS NOVA COPENHAGEN – the Nielsen singers 6.220569 Sopranos – Ann-Christine Wesser Ingels, Louise Skovbæch, Christine Nonbo Altos – Ellen Marie Brink Christensen, Kristin Mulders, Amanda Flodin Tenors – Jakob Skjoldborg, Luis Toscano, Adam Riis Basses – Thomas Kiørbye, Asger Lynge Petersen, Jakob Soelberg Dacapo Records, Denmark’s national record label, was founded in 1986 with the purpose of releasing the best of Danish music past and present. The majority of our recordings are world premieres, and we are dedicated to producing music of the highest international standards. 38

Songs for Choir Ars Nova Copenhagen Michael Bojesen  Frihed Er Det Bedste Guld (Freedom Is the Purest Gold), CNW 255 (1919; Arr

Songs for Choir Ars Nova Copenhagen Michael Bojesen Frihed Er Det Bedste Guld (Freedom Is the Purest Gold), CNW 255 (1919; Arr