Den blomstertid nu kommer

St. Jakobs Kammarkör
(video by DolfRabus)

Here is again Den blomstertid nu kommer (that I have talked about in the post dedicated to Elvira Madigan), this time performed by St. Jakobs Kammarkör at a festival of liturgical music, the Musica Sacra International 2006, in Marktoberdorf, Germany.

As I am watching this choir singing at candles light, I think at the weather these days close to Christmas. It is cold and snowy, and most of the time it is dark, as dark as in this church in Marktoberdorf. The solstice will come in less than a week and days will slowly start to get longer. This tune, played here in the dark, celebrates the coming of summer, and, as the voices get stronger and feel the whole space, it is like a message of hope that comes from the future.

St. Jakobs Church, Stockholm

Israel Kolmodin composed Den blomstertid nu kommer in 1695; the music has the freshness of a rough Baroque.

Israel Kolmodin between King Gustav Adolf and Peter Fjellstedt (Triptych in Dalhem Church, Gotland, Sweden)

Here is the English translation:

1 The summer days of beauty / in blessedness are come. / The flowers are rejoicing / to feel the gleaming sun / in grace arisen brightly / o’er fields of golden grain / so warm and all restoring, / that nature lives again.

2. The fragrance of the meadows, / the planting in the vale, / the whispers of the forest / through branches green and hale— / these wonders all remind us / how great the stores of wealth / of Him whose hand has made us, / who gives us life and health.

3. Oh, hear the sparrows praise Him / who taught them how to sing— / should not our tongues awaken / and thank Creation’s King? / My soul, take up the anthem / with God’s rejoicing throng / and praise the one who gives you / the lovely summer song.

4. O Jesus, noble Savior, / our source of warmth and light! / Oh, shed Your rays of mercy, / our hearts with love ignite. / When You have set them burning / with holy love for You, / then sin and death are buried / and everything is new.

5. My lovely Rose of Sharon, / come beautify my soul, / and pour the dew of Zion, / the grace that makes us whole. / The Spirit’s light refreshes / uplifting as the dawn, / and robes my soul in beauty / as fair as Lebanon.

6. Bestow abundant harvest. / Oh, bless the planted seed, / that meadows grow abundant / with wholesome grain we need— / oh, let us taste the sweetness / of Your undying Word; / let blessedness and mercy / be shining on us, Lord!

Dahlem Church

There is also a Finnish version of the song, Jo joutui armas aika: the best known hymn in Finland.

Jo joutu armas aica
Ja Suwi suloinen
Joll caunist caiken paican
Caunista cuckainen.
Nyt armas Auring meitä
Taas lähte lähemmäx
Hän kuolleet hauto heitä
Jäll teke eläwäx.

Ne nijtyn cuckat corjat
Ja Laiho laxosa
Nijn ylpiät Yrtti tarhat
Puut wehriät werasa
Ne meillen muistuttawat
Suurt hywytt' Jumalan
Jong caick ain nähdä saawat
Juur ymbär Wuoden ain.

(Elvira Madigan)