NSAA – Norwegian Singers Association of America Norwegian Singers Association of America

Sigurd Skavlan
Music by Edvard Grieg

Let us raise the Welcome Song, Brothers, toward the joyous parade.
Let us display high on the banner the harp in its own tongue.
Light a foot, cheerful in mind, Traveling Singers, come in, come in!

Sing together, fellow singers, in a united richness of tones.
Before scattering in your return journey, we will blend soul to soul.
Therefore to our Music Fest, Fellow singers, a most hearty Welcome!

(Loose Translation by Don Berg)

Landsighting
Edvard Grieg

1. Oh, it was Olaf Trygvason, sailing o’er the North Sea grim,
Up to his youthful royal kingdom, never expecting him.
At first sight, halting motion: “What is this kind of wall a thwart the ocean?”

2. Oh, it was Olaf Trygvason, quiet forbidding was the land;
All of his youthful kingly longings seemed by the mountains banned.
Then came a skald* perceiving whitened towers and spires, the sky piercing.

3. Oh it was Olaf Trygvason, then it seemed that he should go
To grayed and ancient temple bastions, white with a crown of snow.
Sorely he then kept longing, with his youthful faith to stand where belonging.

4. Open the land was; spring was here rumbling from its waterfalls.
Storm clouds and sea din rolled around them. Rustling, the forest calls.
Organs, with bells enhancing, Olaf looked about
Himself entrancing. Himself entrancing.

5. (King Olaf’s prayer) Baritone solo
“Our foundation here is grounded, temple-pillars bar out Hades.
Spirit trembles, heart is swelling; just the greatest here is honored!
May my faith match my foundation, mount to Jokel’s elevation.
Be my soul at nature’s apex filled by Him who all created!”

6. Olaf’s prayer we all submit to, now and always all commit to,
“Spirit trembles, heart is swelling; just the greatest here is honored!
May my faith match my foundation, mount to Jokel’s elevation.
Be my soul, at nature’s apex, filled by Him who all created!
Filled by Him! Filled by Him!

*any ancient Scandinavian poet, specifically one of the Viking period.

Yes, We Love This Land
Rikard Nordraak
(The National Anthem of Norway)

Yes, we love this land as it wins renown,
weathered over the water with the thousand homes.
(We) love, (we) love it and think of our father and mother
and the saga-night that settles, (and we) dream of our soil.

Rest by This Spring
Carl Bellman

Rest by this spring! Our little breakfast prepare: red wine with burnet (salad?)
and a recently shot snipe.
Klink, what bottles, Ulla, in our overly full baskets, emptied, roll in the grass
and feel how well the steam evaporates!
Your midday wine we shall pour out of the pitcher with a cheerful expression.
Rest by this spring. Hear the sound of our French horn, cousin!
The sound of the French horn, cousin!

Finn Skottner/Reidar Rinnar

1. Vi er sangere av hele hjerte, hjerte sjel og liv og sinn,  [We are singers of whole heart, heart, soul and mind;]
hver av oss er enkle dele  [each of us a separate part]
Som et mannskor fatter inn. [which makes up a men’s chorus.]
Sangen er vårt samlings merke  [Singing is our symbol of unity]
og vi hever det mot sky,  [and we raise it towards the sky.]
sangen er for oss så kjaer.  [Singing is for us so precious.]
Sangen er vår venn vår styrke  [Singing is our friend, our  strength.]
aere sangen er vårt ry.  [Singing is our fame (or reputation).]

3. Tro i året vil vi sammen  [Faithfully this year we will rehearse together.]
øve enig samler vil vi stå,  [We will stand gathered in harmony.]
må let vinker, vi vil prøve  [The goal beckons; we will try to attain]
fagre sangermål å nå.  [(our) goals of beautiful singing.]
får vi lønen  [For the effort we get the reward]
i den glede sangen gir,  [in the joy the singing gives.]
Fremad da ja freidig glad.  [Forward (or onward) then, yes full boldly glad.]
Vi vil samles, vi vil ta på  [We will be gathered, we will take in]
sangervis friskt er kjekt hurra!  [singers’ fashion vigorously (or lustily) a hearty, “Hurrah!”]

(Translation by Donald Berg)