Among Iceland’s oldest hymns, “Heyr himna smiður” (“Hear, smith of the heavens”) holds a unique place in the country’s cultural memory. Its text, shaped by the hand of Kolbeinn Tumason in the early 13th century, blends solemn faith with medieval poetry. Kolbeinn, a prominent chieftain and poet of his time, is said to have composed these lines just before the Battle of Víðines in 1208, where he met his death. Whether this timing is precisely accurate or part of Icelandic lore, the hymn’s language reflects both humility and the earnestness of a society in transition.
The hymn is considered the oldest preserved in the Nordic region, written in a style that is formal yet surprisingly accessible. While some phrases and metaphors require explanation, even modern Icelanders can appreciate the clarity of its plea for mercy and guidance. Its verses are included in the hymnbook of the Icelandic national church and are especially associated with funerals.
Reviving ancient words through new music
Despite its respected place in Icelandic literature, Kolbeinn’s poem long lacked a musical setting that reflected its significance. This changed dramatically in 1973 when composer Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson created a melody that would transform the hymn’s public role. Encouraged by Róbert Abraham Ottósson, Music Director of the Icelandic Lutheran Church, to give the text a fitting tune, Sigurbjörnsson found inspiration immediately after a snowy winter meeting in Reykjavík. As he navigated the slippery, slow roads of Öskjuhlíð, the melody formed in his mind. The notes were jotted down as soon as he returned home to Kópavogur, and the piece was quickly circulated among church musicians across Iceland.
An earlier musical setting had been composed by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns in the early 20th century, but Sigurbjörnsson’s version has now become the best-known, recognised throughout Iceland and beyond. Its integration into church services and choral repertoires has cemented it as an iconic national hymn.
A hymn for modern times and public moments
Countless choirs have recorded Sigurbjörnsson’s arrangement, including the Hamrahlíð Choir and the Motet Choir of Hallgrímskirkja. The hymn gained an unexpected global audience in September 2013 when the indie-folk group Árstíðir performed it spontaneously in a train station, drawing millions of viewers to the video online. Other interpretations have featured in international albums and media, such as Voces8’s “Infinity” and the television series The Handmaid’s Tale, which used a version arranged by Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
During the lockdown of March 2020, the hymn returned again to public consciousness. Musicians from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra shared a performance from Reykjavík’s Harpa Concert Hall, blending solemn tradition and the uncertainty of the times.
“Heyr himna smiður” thus continues to span centuries and media, its plea for compassion as resonant in sacred halls as it is in digital spaces.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
