Around the turn of the last century, Björn Thoroddsen began collecting notes containing several hymns composed by Martin Luther (1483–1546) in the early 16th century. It is known that Luther made use of the primary music of his time and was in contact with some of the leading composers active in the era. He was unafraid to modify and renew older music, and there are examples of him reworking a hymn tune believed to have been composed around the year 1000.
Björn follows a similar path: he reworks some of Luther’s pieces, adapts them to our own time, and makes some of them his own. In 2004, Björn released the album “Luther”, which contains 10 hymns. The album was very well received, by audiences and by critics alike. As one review noted: “…on this album, Björn draws on music composed by the founder of the Lutheran Church, Martin Luther himself, who was a highly capable composer mostly focused on hymns. Some of these can be found in the Icelandic Hymnal, while others are less well known. Björn essentially reworks many of these pieces, building on the foundation that Luther created. One could say that a bridge has been built here between the Middle Ages and the modern era.”
- Í dauðans höndum Drottinn lá
Christ lag in Todesbanden / Christ lay in the bonds of death - Nú héðan á burt í friði ég fer
Mit Fried und Freud …. / In peace and joy I now depart - Vor Guð er borg á bjargi traust
Ein´feste Burg ist unser Gott / A mighty fortress is our God - Endurlausnari var Jesús Kristur er dauðan sigraði
Jesus Christus unser Heiland der den Tod überwand
Our Redeemer Jesus Christ, who triumphed over death - Af himnum ofan boðskap ber
Vom Himmel hoch, da komme ich her / From Heaven above to earth I come - Herra Guð í himnaríki
Dies sind die heiligen zehn Gebut / The Lord God in Heaven - Impromptu Luther
- Svo vítt um heim sem sólin er
Christum wir sollen loben schon / As far as light of sun doth shine - Í miskunn, Guð vor
Es wollt´ uns Gott genädig sei / May God unto us gracious be - Gloria
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Tidal
Björn Thoroddsen – guitar
Richard Gillis – trumpet
Stefán S. Stefánsson – saxophone
Jón Rafnsson – bass
Eric Qvik – drums
Recorded at BT Studio
Mixing by Gunnar Smári Helgason
All arrangements by Björn Thoroddsen and Richard Gillis
Released in 2004