Did you know that an old, traditional Norwegian hymn was an inspiration and one of the influences for the soundtrack of James Cameron's 1997 film, Titanic?
Composer James Horner had heard a recording of Norwegian singer, Sissel Kyrkjebø, singing "Eg veit i himmerik ei borg (I Know In The Heavenly Kingdom There Is A Stronghold)" . He wanted her voice for the soundtrack. Her voice — not, as many people mistakenly think, Celine Dion — is the voice heard throughout the soundtrack.
In this video, Kyrkjebø explains how she merged the two — the inspiration and the result — for a concert presentation and then we see and hear her sing it. It's very effective.
The hymn originally appeared on Kyrkjebø's 1994 album, Innerst i sjelen (Deep Inside The Soul). I think it's one of her best albums. It's no longer in print (although used copies can sometimes be found on Amazon.com, but the track can be heard on another album of Sissel Kyrkjebø's greatest hits, De Beste (1986 – 2006), which is available on iTunes.
There were, of course, also influences from Irish music and the band, Clannad. So what was the result? Horner's biography on Wikipedia reports:
The album became the best-selling primarily orchestral soundtrack in history, selling over 27 million copies, worldwide. At the 70th Academy Awards, Horner won Oscars for Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song for "My Heart Will Go On" (which he co-wrote with Will Jennings), In addition, Horner and Jennings won three Grammy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for the soundtrack and My Heart Will Go On.
The story is also told that Horner wanted also wanted Kyrkjebø to sing the song, "My Heart Will Go On". However, the producers of film wanted a better known artist and chose Celine Dion for the theme song over the end credits.
Frankly, I agree with that decision — but for another reason. I like Kyrkjebø's voice very much. I have almost all her albums, including her early ones. What she doesn't not seem to have, which Dion has in full measure, is the ability to put heart-ripping pathos and emotion into a song. And that's one of the things I think contributed to the song's success, both in the film and in the charts.
The tune for the hymn is a folk tune from the Hallingdal area of Norway in Buskerud province. The words come from a 15th century German text.
Eg veit i himmerik ei borg,
ho skin som soli klåre
der er kje synder eller sorg,
der er kje gråd og tåre.Der inne bur Guds eigen son
i herlegdom og æra,
han er min trøyst og trygge von,
hjå honom eg skal vera.Men visst eg veit, ein morgon renn
då dødens natt skal enda
Min lekam opp or gravi stend
og evig fryd får kjennaEg er ein fattig ferdamann,
må mine vegar fara
herfrå og til mitt fedreland,
Gud, meg på vegen vara!Me takker deg til evig tid,
Gud Fader, alle saman,
for du er oss så mild og blid
i Jesus Kristus! Amen.
And here is my translation:
I know of a heavenly stronghold
that shines as bright as the sun
where there is no pain or sorrow
where there is no or tears.Inside lives God's own son
in ?? and honor.
He is my faith and secure peace
?? I will be.But i know that one clear morning
that death's night shall end
My ?? Min lekam opp or gravi stend
and eternal peace receive får kjennaI am a poor, wandering man
and must travel my way
from here to my homeland.
God be with me on the way!I thank you for eternity
God the Father, all together
for you are so kind and ?? to us
in Jesus Christ! Amen.
