This last Thursday was Ascension Day, the Ascension of our Lord, the fortieth day of Easter. Ascension Day is a lesser-known church holiday, especially in America. We remember the biblical story of Jesus being taken up in a cloud (Luke 24) to "sit at the right hand of the Father." However one understands that, Jesus now reigns with his Father and promises to return. He is adored by the heavenly host, and we are invited to join our voices to the heavenly chorus.
One of the things I enjoy about being a historian is bringing to light things that have been forgotten, especially edifying things for the Christian community. One of those things is the vast Scandinavian Lutheran hymn tradition among American Lutherans. Given the fact that Scandinavian Lutheran influence (Norwegian and Swedish especially), numerical and otherwise, has been a huge part of the American Lutheran tradition from the early to mid nineteenth century onward, I find this a bit odd and even somewhat scandalous.
When European immigrants came to the United States, they faced pressure, especially in the wake of World War I, to "Americanize." They began to transition from their European languages to English, and as a result, they frequently left behind the songs, both sacred and secular, from the countries of their origin. In time, some of these hymns were translated into English, but many were left behind.
Lutheran merger over the years and the production of common hymnals were also factors in the decreasing influence of Scandinavian hymnody among American Lutherans. As one example, the Lutheran Book of Worship of 1978, in its attempt to bring together the worship life of the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America, and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, passed over many Scandinavian hymns in order to include many German chorales preferred by the Missouri Synod. After the Missouri Synod pulled out of the project at the last minute, some were upset that they were "stuck" with these hymns that Missouri wanted included.
German chorales are wonderful in themselves, but the history of the Lutheran Book of Worship is one of the reasons that Scandinavian hymnody has lost a place among us. I hope to change that. In the new ReClaim: Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home that came out in 2013, Scandinavian hymns that have long been forgotten are featured alongside American, German, and English hymns. For the seventh Sunday of Easter (Ascension Day observed), my congregation sang the great hymn by Danish Pietist bishop Hans Adolph Brorson, "I See You Standing." Brorson is considered one of the greatest Danish hymn writers, and this is one of his treasures. It last appeared in an American Lutheran hymnal in the Concordia Hymnal of 1932:
I see you standing, Lamb of God, now at your Father's right;
But, oh, how painful was your road that led to Zion's height!
And what a burden that you bore; The world's distress and shame.
It made you fall so you could share the woe that none could name.
O spotless lamb, it was your will, in love thus bound to be
Upon the cross on Calvary's hill, from sin to set us free.
With lion strength, your nail pierced hands our death the deathblow gave;
And broken were our prison bands when you broke from your grave.
Around your throne a throng does stream in raiment white as snow.
Their eyes like suns with radiance beam the Lamb of God to know.
The story how He chose to be a servant for our sake.
The angels will eternally sing anthems to your praise.
Twelve times twelve thousand now acclaim, each with their harp in hand.
Upon their brow, your Father's name makes known that happy band.
As voice of many waters rise in rapturous symphony.
To you who won us Paradise eternal praises be.
Hans Adolph Brorson (1694-1764); trans Olav Lee (1859-1943)
Tune: Norwegian folk tune, RELEASE
One of the things I enjoy about being a historian is bringing to light things that have been forgotten, especially edifying things for the Christian community. One of those things is the vast Scandinavian Lutheran hymn tradition among American Lutherans. Given the fact that Scandinavian Lutheran influence (Norwegian and Swedish especially), numerical and otherwise, has been a huge part of the American Lutheran tradition from the early to mid nineteenth century onward, I find this a bit odd and even somewhat scandalous.
When European immigrants came to the United States, they faced pressure, especially in the wake of World War I, to "Americanize." They began to transition from their European languages to English, and as a result, they frequently left behind the songs, both sacred and secular, from the countries of their origin. In time, some of these hymns were translated into English, but many were left behind.
Lutheran merger over the years and the production of common hymnals were also factors in the decreasing influence of Scandinavian hymnody among American Lutherans. As one example, the Lutheran Book of Worship of 1978, in its attempt to bring together the worship life of the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America, and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, passed over many Scandinavian hymns in order to include many German chorales preferred by the Missouri Synod. After the Missouri Synod pulled out of the project at the last minute, some were upset that they were "stuck" with these hymns that Missouri wanted included.
German chorales are wonderful in themselves, but the history of the Lutheran Book of Worship is one of the reasons that Scandinavian hymnody has lost a place among us. I hope to change that. In the new ReClaim: Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home that came out in 2013, Scandinavian hymns that have long been forgotten are featured alongside American, German, and English hymns. For the seventh Sunday of Easter (Ascension Day observed), my congregation sang the great hymn by Danish Pietist bishop Hans Adolph Brorson, "I See You Standing." Brorson is considered one of the greatest Danish hymn writers, and this is one of his treasures. It last appeared in an American Lutheran hymnal in the Concordia Hymnal of 1932:
I see you standing, Lamb of God, now at your Father's right;
But, oh, how painful was your road that led to Zion's height!
And what a burden that you bore; The world's distress and shame.
It made you fall so you could share the woe that none could name.
O spotless lamb, it was your will, in love thus bound to be
Upon the cross on Calvary's hill, from sin to set us free.
With lion strength, your nail pierced hands our death the deathblow gave;
And broken were our prison bands when you broke from your grave.
Around your throne a throng does stream in raiment white as snow.
Their eyes like suns with radiance beam the Lamb of God to know.
The story how He chose to be a servant for our sake.
The angels will eternally sing anthems to your praise.
Twelve times twelve thousand now acclaim, each with their harp in hand.
Upon their brow, your Father's name makes known that happy band.
As voice of many waters rise in rapturous symphony.
To you who won us Paradise eternal praises be.
Hans Adolph Brorson (1694-1764); trans Olav Lee (1859-1943)
Tune: Norwegian folk tune, RELEASE