Nordhymn conferences

NORDHYMN is a Scandinavian association of researchers interested in hymns in Northern Europe.

Pan-Scandinavian projects

Two major collaborative projects on topics common to the entire region have been completed:

  • The first was the research project named after a popular hymn common to the entire region by B. S. Ingemann: Deilig er jorden: Psalmens roll i nutida nordiskt kultur- och samhällsliv [Deilig er jorden: The role of hymns in contemporary Nordic culture and society], edited by Karl-Johan Hansson, Folke Bohlin & Jörgen Straarup, and published in Åbo, 2001.
  • The largest project to date was a study of Martin Luther’s hymns in the lives of the people of Northern Europe: Martin Luthers psalmer i de nordiska folkens liv, edited by Sven-Åke Selander & Karl-Johan Hansson, and published in Lund, 2008.

Research symposia

Twice a year, NORDHYMN arranges research symposia which bring together hymnologists from Northern Europe to discuss specific topics. These meetings are usually held in March and October. These symposia have primarily taken place in Lund, but are also organised throughout the region, and include the Faroe Islands (2000); Seljord, Norway (2002); Løgumkloster, Denmark (2004); Lund and Uppsala, Sweden (2008–2018); Trondheim, Norway (2011, 2018 and 2022); Helsinki, Finland (2016 and 2025).

A selection of symposium topics includes the following
  • Hymnological overviews, cataloging, and electronic data collection
  • Nordic hymnological challenges
  • Anders Frostenson seminars and Taizé songs
  • New hymnals
  • Hymn recordings and dissemination
  • Queer hymnology
  • Women’s hymns and folk traditions
Participate

If you would like to present a project or topic at a future symposium, please contact NORDHYMN’s chair Mattias Lundberg (mattias.lundberg@musik.uu.se). Please also contact him to register as a participant, as well as secretary David Scott Hamnes (dh376@kirken.no).

Local projects

NORDHYMN also encourages smaller research groups to conduct projects that do not necessarily involve all Northern European countries.

Board

The current chair is Mattias Lundberg, and and the secretary is David Scott Hamnes. Both are IAH members. A formal board is elected, and consists of one leading hymnologist from the respective countries.

Further information