Veni Redemptor Gentium

The famous Ambrosian hymn, better known to the Lutherans as "Nun komm der Heiden Heiland". In Norway this is the first hymn in the offical hymn book "Norsk salmebok". What most people seem to have missed, is that Luther has ommitted a couple of verses, and the Norwegeians have even further changed this hymn in their translation, bearing little resemblance to the original Ambrosian words. Therefore I have now made a new Norwegian translation. I am not the only one who has been concerned with this hymn. Take a look at this Dutch site:

Veni Redemptor Gentium / Nun komm der Heiden Heiland

Here's an English site with a literal translation (which indicates that my own translation to Norwegian seems fairly accurate):

Cantata BWV 61 - English Translation [interlinear format]

I have tried to be faithful to the Latin original in my translation. Some of the lines may differ for the sake of rhyme, but I believe that I have managed to express the bigger picture. It is difficult to show this in English, so I'll leave the analysis out. In Norway, the traditional Gregorian tune (the same as the German tune) is somewhat stuck with the Norwegian translation given in "Norsk salmebok". A radical change (i.e. a new translation) of the words would thus call for a new tune to indicate that the words now means something different than before. This is what I have done.

As far as the tune is concerned, I was determined to compose something that is totally different from the traditional tune to show that this is not an adaption of the already existing Norwegian translation. The traditional tune may be interpreted in different ways depending on which harmonies that are used. The harmonies used in "Norsk Koralbok" lends itself to either a somewhat lively or a marcato way of playing the organ, and you get an immediate impression that the hymn is old. Too bad, since translation does not reveal the old hymn. So I have done opposite by giving my new more faithful translation a very legato style tune, and harmonies that belong to our time. The whole experience of singing 8 verses fairly slowly and legato, not letting your lungs relax at any time, singing with an intensity that stretches all the way back to the 4th century... should underline the power that lies in the message of the chaste virgin giving birth to Son of God, the Redeemer of all people.

You'll find my translation and the new hymn tune at the Organ Amateur Page by clicking "Music" and "Music by me". You can also access the words here and the tune here.