Traditional Danish Songs

1. Traditional Danish Songs • In Denmark we have a long tradition for singing. We sing whenever there is an opportunity to do so. For instance in our school we sing every morning at the morning assembly, we sing in the beginning of the school year, at Christmas, at school parties and in the end of a school year- or in the hyper market. • Click the flag to experience… Classical students from the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Southern Denmark (AMDA) suddenly singing at a danish hypermarket called Bilka. The footage was shot during the annual culture night in Esbjerg, Denmark. During the night all sorts of arts and culture was presented all over town. The tune is a danish song called "I Danmarkerjegfødt" (Translates roughly and non-poetically to: I was born i Denmark). The lyrics were written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1850.

2. In the family many sing 24th December when the family is gathered around the Christmas tree. Also at other special days, such as Easter time, time of the year, birthdays, at New Year and other celebrations both with the family, childrenand with friends. • Two Danish songsoftensong in the family • Nu falmer skoven trindt om land - chords and lyrics • Jeg ved en lærkerede - chords and lyrics

3. When the Danish people assemble at bigger assemblies there is a tradition for singing too. Often the choice of songs is both related to the time of the year and the theme of the meeting. • Jeg plukker fløjlsgræs chords and lyrics

4. The songs we are singing both have roots in the Christianity and also in the history of Denmark (Kingdom, agriculture, a land with big thinkers as Kierkegaard and Grundtvig). • Barn dance with songs and folk dance.

5. Education • Grundtvig is the ideological father of the folk high school, though his own ideas on education had another focus. He advocated reforming the ailing Sorø Academy into a popular school aiming at another form of higher education than what was common at the university. Rather than educating learned scholars, he believed the university should educate its students for active participation in society and popular life. Thus practical skills as well as national poetry and history should form an essential part of the instruction. • Folk high school song book • We still sing songs from this book.

6. Velkommen i den grønne lundTekst: N. F. S. Grundtvig, 1843Melodi: Fritz Andersen, 1852 • Velkommen i den grønne lund,hvor fuglene de sjunge!det høres skal: den danske mundtil sang har og en tunge.Vi har det godt i grunden her,såvel som vore fædre,vil Gud, den dag tør være nær,vi får det end lidt bedre.Vor konge er vor fuldtro ven,som guld hans ord må skattes:"Kom hid, I gode danemænd,og sig os, hvad I fattes!"Kan munden vi få ret på gangtil andet end at spise,hverandet barn i Danevangforstår halvkvæden vise.For, hvad vi fattes først og sidst,til lykke ej så ganske,men lidt dog både her og hist,det er det ægte danske.Derom sang nys en lille fugli syd på Skamlingsbanke,og synd det var at lægge skjulpå hele folkets tanke.Vi føre løver i vort skjoldaf hjerter tæt omsatte,dem førte vi fra hedenoldog ingen abekatte.Hver fugl må synge med sit næb,og livet, kan vi skønne,var uden sang kun slid og slæb.Velkommen i det grønne!

7. The Danish National Anthem • Den Danske nationalsang chords and lyrics • Click at the picture to experience the community the Danish fans have whensinging the national anthem. • Wesing the National Anthem, whenever the Danish Soccer, Handball or other teams play for Denmark.