Lofsöngur
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National anthem ofIceland | |
Also known as | "Ó Guð vors lands"(English:" O, God of Our Land ") |
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Lyrics | Matthías Jochumsson,1874 |
Music | Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson,1874 |
Adopted | 1944 |
Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Bandinstrumental version (one verse) |
"Lofsöngur"(Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈlɔvˌsœyŋkʏr̥],lit. "Hymn"[1]), also known as "Ó Guð vors lands"(pronounced[ouːˈkvʏðˈvɔr̥sˈlants];English:"O, God of Our Land"), is thenational anthemofIceland.Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnssoncomposed the music, while the lyrics were authored byMatthías Jochumsson.It was adopted as the national anthem in 1944, when the country declared independence byvoting to endits"personal union"and become a republic.
It is notorious for being extremely challenging to sing, and its strongreligioustheme has been the source of dispute in contemporary Iceland.
History[edit]
The late 19th century saw music in Iceland develop and flourish. Though many of their initial composers had to study and apply their trade abroad due to insufficient opportunities on offer at home, they were able to bring what they had learned back to Iceland.[2][3]One of these musicians wasSveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson,who was the first person from his homeland to pursue "an international career as a composer".[2]He sojourned inEdinburghduring the early 1870s,[3][4]and wrote the music for Lofsöngur inside atown houselocated in thecity's New Townin 1874.[3]By 1922, the song became so well known and loved throughout Iceland that, in recognition of this, theAlthingendowed Sveinbjörnsson with astate pension.[3]He was the first composer in the country to be conferred such an honour.[2]
The lyrical portion of it was penned byMatthías Jochumsson,one of the "best loved poets" in the country[5]who was also a priest.[6]Although the commemorative plaque in Edinburgh purports that both the music and lyrics were written there, it is nowadays believed that Jochumsson had in fact produced the latter back in his homeland.[3]Much like Sveinbjörnsson, Jochumsson became the first Icelandic poet to be given a state pension. The Althing also bestowed on him the title of "National Poet".[7]
It was written to coincide with the 1874 festivities in honor of one millennium since theNorsefirst arrivedon the island.[6][8]It is for this reason that the full translation of the anthem's title is "The Millennial Hymn of Iceland".[8][9]The song was first played on August 2 of that year,[9]at a service celebrated atReykjavík Cathedralto commemorate the milestone, with theKing of Iceland,Christian IX,in attendance.[6][10]However, the song was not officially adopted as the country's national anthem until 70 years later in 1944,[11]when Icelandersvoted in a referendumto end their state'spersonal union with Denmarkand become a republic.[12]
Lyrics[edit]
Although the Icelandic national anthem consists of threestanzas,only the first one is sung on a regular basis.[10]
Icelandicoriginal[13] | IPAtranscription[a] | Literal English translation | Poetic English translation[14] |
---|---|---|---|
I |
1 |
I |
I |
Criticism[edit]
The anthem is notorious for being extremely challenging to sing, due to its largevocal rangeof high and lowregisters—spanning aminor fourteenth.[3][10][15][16]"Lofsöngur" has been described as aChristian hymnto God with strong religious themes.[6][10]Thus, its suitability as the national anthem in Iceland'sincreasingly secular societyof the present-day has been challenged,[3][10]notwithstanding the fact that the country still maintains anofficial religionin the form of theChurch of Iceland.[6]Some have suggested replacing it with a non-religious song that is more all-encompassing.[6][10]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Sverri Hólmarsson, ed. (2007).Icelandic-English Dictionary.
lofsöngur = hymn, song of praise
- ^abcRule, James Casey (2011)."Writing Lilja: A Glance at Icelandic Music and Spirit".Perspectives on Business and Economics.29.Lehigh University: 126.
- ^abcdefgMcCall, Chris (June 27, 2016)."Iceland's national anthem was written in an Edinburgh house".The Scotsman.Edinburgh. Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2016.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
- ^"Composer of the Week – Iceland, A Symphony of Fire and Ice".BBC Radio 3.BBC. December 2012.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
- ^Mather, Victoria (May 27, 2016)."Iceland has a very special kind of beauty and you don't always have to look up to see it".Iceland Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2017.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^abcdefSilk, Mark (July 1, 2016)."Go Iceland!".The Gazette.Colorado Springs. Religion News Service. Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2017.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^Scott Fortune, Andrew (November 16, 2014)."Matthías Jochumsson, poet and writer of Iceland's national anthem".Icelandic Times.Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2017.RetrievedApril 27,2017.
- ^abNeijmann, Daisy L., ed. (2006).A History of Icelandic Literature.University of Nebraska Press. p. 278.ISBN0803233469.
- ^abFlorby, Gunilla; Shackleton, Mark; Suhonen, Katri, eds. (2009).Canada: Images of a Post/National Society.Peter Lang. p. 242.ISBN9789052014852.
- ^abcdefHauptmann, Katharina (January 12, 2011)."The Un-Singable National Anthem of Iceland".Iceland Review.Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2017.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^"Iceland".The World Factbook.CIA. January 12, 2017.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^"Iceland – History".Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations(12th ed.). Thomson Gale. 2007.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
- ^Ljóðmæli: úrval.Jochumsson, Matthías (1815). Bókaverzlun Sigf. Eymundssonar.
- ^National Anthem.The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems[2 volumes] (2009). Minahan, James B.
- ^Taylor, Lesley Ciarula (March 4, 2010)."Things you never knew about national anthems".Toronto Star.Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2017.RetrievedApril 27,2017.
- ^Erlingsdottir, Iris (July 18, 2009)."Iceland Independence Day: We Worship Our God (Mammon) And Die".Huffpost.RetrievedJune 1,2020.
External links[edit]
- Upptökurnar eru af geisladisk sem forsætisráðuneytið gaf út árið 2003
- The Icelandic National Anthem
- Audio of the national anthem of Iceland, with information and lyrics(archive link)
- A simple but accurate MIDI transcription of the official version(ArchivedApril 15, 2017, at theWayback Machine)
- Video of choir singing 'Lofsöngur'