From folksongs to hymn book

Magnus Brostrup Landstad

Norwegian pastor Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1802-1880), one of Norway's most prominent figures in his time, spent almost half of his life in the county of Telemark, and it was here he collected his folk songs.

Hymnbook

Despite criticism from academic quarters, his collection of folk songs has had great national significance. He was also criticised by his contemporaries for the folksy simplicity of some of the approximately sixty hymns he wrote and included in his Church Hymnbook. Containing altogether 600 hymns, this hymnal was authorised for use by the Church of Norway in 1869 and has been used more than other hymnbook in Norwegian churches.

Landstad's hymns

Today, Landstad's hymns are praised for their homelike tone and for their warmth and sincerity. His hymnbook was one of the most important books published in the 19th century.
Issue: Norway, 20 November 2002
Design: Arild Yttri