Lad os alle synge!

Abstract

Let Us All Sing!An Investigation of Metareferentiality in Hymn Singing from an Intermedial Perspective A number of hymns in The Danish Hymnal thematize the act of singing hymns together, thus incorporating a metareferential dimension. This article examines the significance and impact of this metareferentiality on the analysis of such hymns and for the understanding of the social context and practices they are embedded in. The theoretical framework for examining metareferentiality within a musical context is based on Werner Wolf’s definition, which characterizes metareferentiality as a form of self-reference that implies a reflection on the work’s media per se. It is argued that when applied to hymns and songs, this definition must be complemented with Lea Wierød Borčak’s view of hymns as both an emergent intermedial fusion of text and music and as a social practice. Building on this theoretical point of departure, this article analyzes the metareferential hymn ”Guds Menighed, syng for vor Skaber i Løn” (1847) written by N. F. S. Grundtvig. The analysis investigates the influence of metareferentiality on both the internal meaningmaking of the hymn and the social practice by exploring the connection between the hymn and the folk song ”Harpens Kraft”, to which the text is set. I show that the metareferentiality is closely linked to the emergent intermedial and social character of the hymn, as the metareferences are only actualized through a concrete, situated act of singing. Finally, the article discusses the function of metareferentiality in a wider context, where it can be seen as compensatory for absence or social uncertainty. In a historical context, this may add interesting perspectives on N. F. S. Grundtvig’s ideas, where metareferential hymns may be viewed as concrete tools for strengthening communal singing. These insights open a discussion about the inclusive and exclusive effects of communal singing.