Danish hymnody

The beginnings of Danish Hymnody date back to the 15th century, partly originating in the lay movements of that time, and partly as a Danish version of the renaissance culture of Northern Europe. Only a few texts have been preserved. Revised versions of some songs to the Holy Virgin and a number of pre-Reformation Christmas and Easter carols were included in hymnals of the Reformation period. Some of these carols are from German sources and are either parallel translations from Latin or translations from German. The oldest Danish hymn-writer known by name is Michael Nicolai, who in the 1490s wrote a number of hymns to the Holy Virgin. The oldest known Danish hymn is ‘O Day Full of Grace’,...