Lausn

 

Lausn - (1995)   

Hallgrimur Pétúrsson

for soprano and piano (or organ)

for Hlin Pétursdóttir, soprano

 

i.   Sungið, sagt og téð

 

Ó, Jesú, gef þinn anda mér,
allt svo verði til dýrðar þér
uppteiknað, sungið, sagt og téð,
síðan þess aðrir njóti með.

ii. Þurfamaður

 

Þurfamaður ert þú, mín sál,

þiggur af drottni sérhvert mál,

fæðu þína og fóstrið allt,
fyrir það honum þakka skalt.

iii. Daglega

 

Upplýstu hug og hjarta mitt,
herra minn, Jesú sæti,
svo að ég dýrðar dæmið þitt
daglega stundaið gæti;
þeir, sem óforþént angra mig,
óska ég helzt að betri sig,
svo hjá miskunn mæti.

 

iv. Lofa þinn guð


Lausnarans venju lær og halt,
lofa þinn guð og dýrka skalt,
bænarlaus aldrei byrjuð sé
burtför af þínu heimili.

 

Hallgrimur Pétúrsson

 

Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 – 1674) was one of Iceland's most famous poets and a priest at Hvalneskirkja and Saurbær in Hvalfjörður. The Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík and the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær are named after him, in part because of his contributions to Lutheran hymnody. He was one of the most influential pastors during what has been called the Age of Orthodoxy (1580-1713). As a youth, he fled his home and found his way to Germany, where an influential Icelander, Brynjólfur Sveinsson, noticed him and encouraged and sponsored studies for the priesthood in Copenhagen, Denmark. Seven years after Pétursson return to Iceland, Brynjólfur Sveinsson became bishop at Skálholt and appointed Hallgrímur as a priest at Hvalnes, even though he had not graduated in Denmark, because of his writing and sermonizing. Hallgrímur Pétursson died of leprosy in 1674.

 

"Lausn," the title for this cycle of  songs, may be translated severally from the old Icelandic as 1) an answer to a riddle, 2) salvation and also 3) escape from imprisonment. This multivalent title should imply all the above, Hlin's commentary to me suggests. The overall work is of fifty-one sets of verses, the number of Péturrson's verses, verse lengths and rhyme schemes of each " Sálmur" varying from the others, with some verses of only four rhymed lines, and others of up to nine lines per verse grouped together in each section.

 

i.   Sung, Said and Narrated

 

O, Jesus, give me your spirit,

so that all shall be your glory,

drawn up, sung, said and narrated,

that others might enjoy as well.

 

from Sálmur 1, titled "Um herrans Kristí útgang í grasgarðinn ," 8th verse

 

ii.  A Beggar

 

A beggar are you, my soul,

receiving from the Lord every meal,

your food and that which fosters all,

for that you shall thank Him.

 

from Sálmur 1, 11th verse

 

iii.   Every Day

 

Enlighten my mind and heart,

my Lord, Jesus sweet,

so that I your glorious example

can follow every day;

those who distress me, undeserving,

I would rather they better themselves

so as to meet with your mercy.

 

                                                            from Sálmur 34, titled "Það fyrsta orð Kristí á krossinum," 7th verse

 

iv.   Praise Your God

 

The Saviour’s habit learn and keep,

praise your God and worship shall

without a prayer never begun be

departure from your home.

 

from  Sálmur 1, 14th verse

 

Hlin Pétursdóttir

 

In Kaiserslautern, I performed with the wonderful Icelandic soprano, Hlin Pétursdóttir, and enjoyed her performances in other repertoire besides our Tannhäuser, which had opened the new Pflaztheater there. These classical texts from the Passíusálmar  (1660) by Hallgrímur Péturrson were suggested by her, and debuted in Rekyavik with organ accompaniment. The high tessitura was requested by her, and I did my part to oblige.

 

Approximate phonetic equivalents courtesy of Hlín Péttursdóttir, for whom these songs were composed.   

a = i,  þ = th (as in think), ð =liquid th (as in those), é = ay, á = au,

s = never soft, hard s,  g = very soft g, u = oe, o = aw (lost), ó = oh (don’t), ú = oo (too)

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.

 

Lausn