Henrik Lund
Encyclopedia
Henning Jakob Henrik Lund or Intel'eraq (1875–1948) was a Greenlandic lyricist, painter and priest. He wrote the lyrics to "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit
,"
in the indigenous Greenlandic language, an Eskimo–Aleut language. The song was adopted as the national anthem
of Greenland
.
, a village on the southwest coast of Greenland
. He grew up near a community of relocated East Greenlandic Inuit and, like many in his family, devoted himself to work in East Greenland. Lund was of mixed Inuit
and European descent, described as having Greenlandic features and bluish-grey eyes. His wife was Malene Lund, who was born in 1877 and died in 1979.
He learned to love music and poetry through his family and a local German Moravian mission. His father, Isak Lund, was a head catechist and a poet, whose patriotic sentiments are evident in his works, such as the poem "Nuna Tassa Tupingnartoq" or "This Is a Wonderful Country."
in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ultimately, he became the local pastor at Narssaq.
From 1923 to 1932, Lund was elected to the South Greenland provincial council. He also painted in oils and watercolor.
(1891–1960). The song was adopted as the national anthem of Greenland in 1916. The lyrics translated from the Greenlandic language into English prose are:
This song can be interpreted as being assimilationist
in tone and certainly has European influences; however, it also reflects the stirring of national consciousness of early 20th century Greenland. Village and tribal loyalties expanded to encompass the entire country, Kalaallit Nunaat. Since 1979, "Nuna asiilasooq
" (The Land of Great Length), an anthem used by the self-governing Kalaallit
people, has additionally been officially recognized by the government. Jonathan Petersen wrote both the lyrics and melody.
. Henrik and Malene Lund's House, also known as Lund Cottage, built after Lund's own design in Narsaq, became a memorial in 1980 and is open to the public as part of the Narsaq Museum.
Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit
"Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" is the national anthem of Greenland, an autonomous province of Denmark. With lyrics by Henrik Lund and music composed by Jonathan Petersen, the anthem was officially adopted in 1916...
,"
in the indigenous Greenlandic language, an Eskimo–Aleut language. The song was adopted as the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
.
Background
Henrik Lund was born on 29 September 1875 in NanortalikNanortalik
Nanortalik is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With 1,448 inhabitants in 2010, it is the tenth-largest town in the country. The name Nanortalik means "place of polar bears" or "place where the polar bears go" .- History :...
, a village on the southwest coast of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. He grew up near a community of relocated East Greenlandic Inuit and, like many in his family, devoted himself to work in East Greenland. Lund was of mixed Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
and European descent, described as having Greenlandic features and bluish-grey eyes. His wife was Malene Lund, who was born in 1877 and died in 1979.
He learned to love music and poetry through his family and a local German Moravian mission. His father, Isak Lund, was a head catechist and a poet, whose patriotic sentiments are evident in his works, such as the poem "Nuna Tassa Tupingnartoq" or "This Is a Wonderful Country."
Career
After attending the Danish Lutheran seminary in Godthaab, Lund became the catechist at Angmagssalik in East Greenland in 1900. In 1909, he returned home to West Greenland. He was ordained as a pastor on October 9, 1936 at the Cathedral of Our LadyChurch of Our Lady (Copenhagen)
The Church of Our Lady is the cathedral of Copenhagen and the National Cathedral of Denmark. It is situated on Vor Frue Plads and next to the main building of the University of Copenhagen....
in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ultimately, he became the local pastor at Narssaq.
From 1923 to 1932, Lund was elected to the South Greenland provincial council. He also painted in oils and watercolor.
Poetry and song
He composed hymns in the Greenlandic language, which were published in 1909, 1930, 1937, and 1945. The second issue of a Greenlandic songbook, Erinarssûtit features his first published poetry, including "Upernalermat" or "As Spring Is Coming." Later issues of this songbook include more of his poetry–some secular in nature. His poems can be classified as epic or didactic. One poem, "Igdlugssaq Nápagaungmat" or "When the House Was Built," details the seemingly minor event of constructing a home in Angmagssalik. While not overtly heroic, this action will be useful and demonstrated community affection. In "Nunat Asingagingmata" or "When the Countries Again Turned Pale," Lund writes: "We will soon see the country covered with snow, dressed in the garment of the sorrow, and crying in the storm after having bidden good-bye to all the small birds."National anthem
Lund's patriotic poem, "Nunarput Utoqqarsuanngoravit" or "Our Country Who's Become So Old," was written in 1912 and later set to music by Jonathan PetersenJonathan Petersen
Jonathan Petersen was a Greenlandic songwriter. He composed the music to the national anthem of Greenland, Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit . The lyrics were written by the Greenlandic pastor Henrik Lund, and the song was adopted as the national anthem in 1916.-References:...
(1891–1960). The song was adopted as the national anthem of Greenland in 1916. The lyrics translated from the Greenlandic language into English prose are:
- Our country, when you grew very old, your head was crowned with white hair. You carried steadfast your children in your arms and gave them what belonged to your coastland.
- We who here grew up with you as an immature people, as small children, we want to call ourselves kalâtdlit in front of your honorable head!
- And making use of all that belongs to you, we feel a desire to advance: bettering the conditions, which hold you back, we are firmly resolved to go forward, forward.
- We want very much to follow the mature people. We are longing to use the freedom of speech and press!
- There is not at all the slightest reason for holding back. Greenlanders, stand up on your feet, forward! It is well worth to live as men. Show that you can think for yourselves!
This song can be interpreted as being assimilationist
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
in tone and certainly has European influences; however, it also reflects the stirring of national consciousness of early 20th century Greenland. Village and tribal loyalties expanded to encompass the entire country, Kalaallit Nunaat. Since 1979, "Nuna asiilasooq
Nuna asiilasooq
"Nuna asiilasooq" is a national anthem of Greenland used by the self-governing Kalaallit Inuit people of Greenland."Nuna asiilasooq" was officially recognised by the government in 1979...
" (The Land of Great Length), an anthem used by the self-governing Kalaallit
Kalaallit
Kalaallit is the contemporary term in the Kalaallisut language for the indigenous people living in Greenland, also called the Kalaallit Nunaat. The singular term is kalaaleq. The Kalaallit are a part of the Arctic Inuit people. The language spoken by Inuit in Greenland is Kalaallisut.Historically,...
people, has additionally been officially recognized by the government. Jonathan Petersen wrote both the lyrics and melody.
Honors
The Danish king awarded him the two orders: Dannebrogsmændenes Hæderstegn and Ingenio et ArtiIngenio et Arti
Ingenio et Arti is a Danish medal awarded to prominent Danish and foreign scientists and artists. The honour, a personal award of the Monarch, was instituted by King Christian VIII in 1841 and could be awarded to women as well as men.The medal is awarded irregularly, on average less than twice per...
. Henrik and Malene Lund's House, also known as Lund Cottage, built after Lund's own design in Narsaq, became a memorial in 1980 and is open to the public as part of the Narsaq Museum.
External links
- "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old), recording, lyrics, and sheet music