 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Norwegian. (December 2014)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
"Det kimer nu til julefest" (The Happy Christmas Comes Once More [1] ) is a Danish Christmas carol. The lyrics were written by the Danish poet N.F.S. Grundtvig in 1817, and the music was composed by Carl Christian Nicolaj Balle in 1850. [2]
Grundtvig wrote the hymn with inspiration from Martin Luther's "Vom Himmel hoch da komm’ Ich her". In 1810, he wrote it as "Fra Himmelen højt komme vi nu her", and in 1817 it was reworked as "Det kimer nu til julefest" with 24 stanzas. It was published in a weekly magazine on 23 December as "Morten Luthers Jule-Psalme. (Frit fordansket"). The current version of the hymn with nine stanzas is the result of several modifications, for instance by Bernhard Severin Ingemann, and was first published in a supplement to the 1877 edition of Fest-Psalmer. [3]
The hymn was most likely written for the tune of "Fra Himlen højt kom budskab her" (Schumann, 1539), but can also be paired with the tune of "Fra Himlen kom en engel klar". The most popular tune was written by the clergyman C. Balle in 1850. [3]
The hymn is included in the 19th edition of the Danish Folk High School Songbook , as No. 241, paired with Balle's tune.
Notable recordings have been made by Swedish singer Sven-Olof Sandberg (1905–1974) and Norwegian soloist Olav Werner (1913–1992). [4] [5] [6]
A number of adaptations of the song into English exist. The earliest, entitled "The Bells of Christmas Chime Once More", was translated by Charles P. Krauth in 1867. A later adaptation bore the title "O Fir Tree Dark", and was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1947. Another translation is "The Happy Christmas Comes Once More" by Charles P. Krauth. [7]
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, most often referred to as N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher and politician. He was one of the most influential people in Danish history, as his philosophy gave rise to a new form of nationalism in the last half of the 19th century. It was steeped in the national literature and supported by deep spirituality.
"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most popular carols; a 1996 Gallup Poll ranked it joint second. Although it was long claimed to be the work of German religious reformer Martin Luther, the carol is now thought to be wholly American in origin. The two most common musical settings are by William J. Kirkpatrick (1895) and James Ramsey Murray (1887).
Thomas Hansen Kingo was a Danish bishop, poet and hymnwriter born in Slangerup, near Copenhagen. His work marked the high point of Danish baroque poetry.
Sven Eivindsen Aarrestad was a writer, politician, and leader in the Norwegian temperance movement during the 19th century.
Elves' Hill is a comedy by Johan Ludvig Heiberg, with overture and incidental music by Friedrich Kuhlau, which is considered the first Danish national play.
Louis Miehe-Renard was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 70 films between 1948 and 1988. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark.
Miskow Makwarth was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 30 films between 1937 and 1976.
Carl Christian Nicolaj Balle (1806–1855) was a Danish composer and editor of church music; he is noted for his Christmas compositions, including the hymn tune "Det kimer nu til julefest". He was born in Copenhagen, and served as a pastor in Vesterbølle and Nebsager.
Sven Rudolf Sidenius Gyldmark was a Danish film score composer. He was the brother of Hugo Gyldmark and Leonard who were also composers.
Glade Jul is the second album of the Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø. The album was recorded with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. It sold 450,000 copies in 1987 and has sold over 60,000 copies in Norway since then. Adding the releases in other countries, the sales number has passed the one million mark since then. The album was mainly sold in Norway, whose population is less than five million. Glade Jul is the all-time best-selling album in Norway.
"Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" is a Lutheran chorale of 1524 with words written by Martin Luther, based on "Veni redemptor gentium" by Ambrose, and a melody, Zahn 1174, based on its plainchant. It was printed in the Erfurt Enchiridion of 1524.
Højskolesangbogen of the Danish adult Folk High Schools is a songbook established by Heinrich von Nutzhorn in 1894 and substantially revised into a 1922 standard edition.
Sondre Bratland is a Norwegian folk singer, song teacher and Government scholar. He has performed traditional songs from Setesdal and Telemark, collected religious folk tunes and composed music to songs by poets as Olav H. Hauge and Tarjei Vesaas. His album Pilegrimens Sangbog from 1982 earned him Spellemannprisen.
"Elveskud" or "Elverskud" is the Danish, and most widely used, name for one of the most popular ballads in Scandinavia.
"Ett barn är fött på denna dag" is a Swedish Christmas song.
"Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" is a hymn text relating to the Nativity of Jesus, written by Martin Luther in 1534. The hymn is most often sung to the melody, Zahn No. 346, which first appeared in a 1539 songbook and was probably also composed by Luther. This classic Christmas carol remains popular and has inspired many choral and organ works by other composers.
Bente Hansen was a Danish writer, editor and women's rights activist who was a prominent supporter of the Danish Red Stocking Movement from 1970. She published a number of books on socialism and the role of women and was coordinating editor of the daily newspaper Information in the mid-1970s, giving special attention to social movements.
Julen har bragt velsignet bud is a popular Danish Christmas hymn, written for children by Bernhard Severin Ingemann in 1839.
 | This song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about music in Denmark is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
