Der er et yndigt land
English: There is a Lovely Land
National anthem of Denmark
LyricsAdam Oehlenschläger, 1819
MusicHans Ernst Krøyer, 1835
Adopted1835
Audio sample
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version
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"Der er et yndigt land" (Danish pronunciation: [tɛɐ̯ ˈɛɐ̯ e̝t ˈøntit ˈlænˀ, tɑ -]; lit. 'There is a lovely country') is one of the two national anthems of Denmark.

History

The lyrics were written in 1819 by Adam Oehlenschläger and bore the motto in Latin: Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet (Horace: "This corner of the earth smiles for me more than any other"). The music was composed in 1835 by Hans Ernst Krøyer. Later, Thomas Laub and Carl Nielsen each composed alternative melodies, but neither of them has gained widespread adoption, and today they are mostly unknown to the general population.

When first published, the national anthem had twelve verses, but this was shortened to the first, third, fifth, and last verse in later editions.

Denmark is one of only two countries in the world — the other being New Zealand – with two official national anthems. Officially, "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" is both a national and a royal anthem; it has equal status with "Der er et yndigt land", which is treated as the civil national anthem.[1] On official and military occasions, "Kong Christian" is performed alone, or the two national anthems are played together.[2]

Music

Lyrics

In certain situations, for example at sporting events, only the first verse (or stanza) and the last three lines of the fourth verse are sung.

Danish original[3][4] IPA transcription[lower-alpha 1] Literal English translation Metrical English translation

I
Der er et yndigt land,
Det står med brede bøge
𝄆 Nær salten østerstrand. 𝄇
Det bugter sig i bakke, dal,
Det hedder gamle Danmark
𝄆 Og det er Frejas sal. 𝄇

II
Der sad i fordums tid
De harniskklædte kæmper,
𝄆 Udhvilede fra strid. 𝄇
Så drog de frem til fjenders mén,
Nu hvile deres bene
𝄆 Bag højens bautasten. 𝄇

III
Det land endnu er skønt,
Thi blå sig søen bælter,
𝄆 Og løvet står så grønt. 𝄇
Og ædle kvinder, skønne møer
Og mænd og raske svende
𝄆 Bebo de danskes øer. 𝄇

IV
Hil drot og fædreland!
Hil hver en danneborger,
𝄆 Som virker, hvad han kan! 𝄇
Vort gamle Danmark skal bestå,
Så længe bøgen spejler
𝄆 Sin top i bølgen blå. 𝄇

1
[tɛɐ̯ ɛɐ̯ e̝t ˈøn.tit lænˀ]
[te̝ ˈstɒˀ með ˈpʁeː.ðə ˈpøː.jə]
𝄆 [nɛɐ̯ˀ ˈsæl.tən ˈøs.tɐ.ˌstʁɑnˀ] 𝄇
[te̝ ˈpɔk.tɐ sɑj i ˈpɑ.kə tɛˀl]
[te̝ ˈhe̝.ðˀɐ ˈkɑm.lə ˈtæn.mɑk]
𝄆 [ʌ te̝ ɛɐ̯ ˈfʁɑ.jæs sɛˀl] 𝄇

2
[tɛɐ̯ sæðˀ i ˈfɒː.tɔms tsʰiðˀ]
[ti ˈhɑː.nisk.ˌkʰleˀ.tə ˈkʰem.pɐ]
𝄆 [ˈuð.ˌviˀ.lə.ðə fʁɑ stʁiðˀ] 𝄇
[sʌ tʁoˀ ti fʁæmˀ tsʰe̝l ˈfje.nɐs me̝ˀn]
[nu ˈviː.lə ˈtɛɐ̯.ɐs ˈpe̝ː.nə]
𝄆 [pɛˀj ˈhʌ.jəns ˈpɑw.tæ.ˌste̝ˀn] 𝄇

3
[te̝ lænˀ e.ˈnu ɛɐ̯ skœnˀt]
[tsʰi plɔˀ sɑj søˀ.jən ˈpel.tɐ]
𝄆 [ʌ(w) ˈløˀ.vəð stɒˀ sʌ kʁɶnˀt] 𝄇
[ʌ(w) ˈɛˀð.lə ˈkve̝.nɐ skœ.nə møˀɐ]
[ʌ(w) menˀ ʌ(w) ˈʁɑs.kə ˈsve.nə]
𝄆 [pe̝.ˈpoˀ ti ˈtæns.kəs øˀɐ] 𝄇

4
[hilˀ tʁʌt ʌ(w) ˈfeð.ʁɐ.ˌlænˀ]
[hilˀ vɛɐ̯ˀ e̝n ˈtæ.nə.ˌpɒː.wɐ]
𝄆 [sʌm ˈviɐ̯.kɐ væð hæn kʰænˀ] 𝄇
[vɒːt ˈkɑm.lə ˈtæn.mɑk ˈskæl pe̝.ˈstɔˀ]
[sʌ ˈle.ŋə ˈpøː.jən ˈspɑj.lɐ]
𝄆 [sin tsʰʌp i ˈpøl.jən plɔˀ] 𝄇

I
There is a lovely country
it stands with broad beech-trees,
𝄆 near the salty eastern shore 𝄇
It bends itself in hill, valley,
its name is old Denmark
𝄆 and it is Freya's hall. 𝄇

II
There sat in former times,
the armour-suited warriors,
𝄆 rested from conflict. 𝄇
Then they went forward to the enemies' injury,
now resting are their bones
𝄆 behind the mound's menhir. 𝄇

III
That country is still lovely,
because the sea waves so blue frolic,
𝄆 and the foliage stands so green 𝄇
And noble women, beautiful maidens,
and men and brisk swains
𝄆 inhabit the Danes' islands. 𝄇

IV
Hail king and fatherland!
Hail every honourable citizen,
𝄆 who works, what he can 𝄇
Our old Denmark shall endure,
as long as the beech-tree mirrors
𝄆 its top in the blue wave! 𝄇

I
There is a land we love
with shady beech-trees aspread
𝄆 The briny shores above. 𝄇
Its hills and valleys gently fall,
'Tis the name of ol' Denmark,
𝄆 'Tis good ol' Freya's hall. 𝄇

II
There in the days of yore
Sat armoured giants rested
𝄆 'Tween their frays of gore 𝄇
Then they went forth the foe to face,
Now found in stone-set barrows,
𝄆 Their final resting place. 𝄇

III
This land is still as fair,
The sea is blue around it,
𝄆 And peace is cherished there. 𝄇
Strong men and noble women still
Uphold their country's honour
𝄆 With faithfulness and skill. 𝄇

IV
Hail king and fatherland!
Hail citizens of honour,
𝄆 Who do the best they can. 𝄇
Our ancient Denmark shall remain,
As long as beech tops mirror
𝄆 In waves of blue their chain! 𝄇

Notes

  1. ↑ See Help:IPA/Danish and Danish phonology.

References

  1. ↑ "Not one but two national anthems". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Udenrigsministeriet (6 August 2001). "Instruks for Udenrigstjenesten". Retsinformation. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Nationalanthems.me".
  4. ↑ Der er et Yndigt Land af Adam Oehlenschläger, 1819. danmarkshistoriendk. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
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