Sangen om Iver Huitfeldt (Ivar Huitfeldt's Song)
Performed by Søværnets Tamburkorps (The Royal Danish Navy Band) on "Et Hav Af Musik" (2014)
Painting by Christian Mølsted (1862-1930): Dannebroge i brand (1921)
"Ivar Huitfeldt's Song" (Also known as "There was a battle in the Bay of Køge") is a song from Jacob Breda Bull's theatre piece, Tordenskjold (1901). The melody is composed by Johan Halvorsen. He also wrote "The Song of Dannebrog" for the piece.
Ivar Huitfeldt (born 5th of December 1665 in Frederikssten, dead 4th of October 1710) was a Post-Captain of the Danish (Dano-Norwegian) Navy. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721) he was, in 1704, appointed captain of the ship of the line, "Dannebroge". Huitfeldt distinguished himself by saving the Dano-Norwegian fleet during a Swedish attack, sacrificing his own ship in the Battle of Køge Bay. On the 4th of October 1710 "Dannebroge" had caught fire. The other ships in the fleet managed to pull away after Huitfeldt dropped his anchors. Therefore they were not harmed by the explosion that followed. Only nine of the crew of approximately 550 souls survived. The Danish fleet avoided a catastrophic defeat as a result of this action.
Translation:
(1) There was a battle in the bay of Køge
in seventeen hundred and ten.
For Gyldenløve's fleet the sound was closed;
he had to pass by the Swedes.
He therefore set out from Køge waters
north north-east towards the enemy;
but in the van was Huitfeldt on Dannebroge.
(2) As Huitfeld approached the enemy,
the Swedes fired fiercely,
Baron Wachtmeister himself on his man of war
and two frigates also.
As Dannebroge's lieutenant saw all this,
he said: "Captain, we fight against three";
but Huitfeldt answered: "Yes, what of it?"
(3) But when the attack was at its height,
there was fire reported on board,
and Huitfeldt saw that if he fell off,
he'd fire Gyldenløve as well.
Then five hundred and fifty men bellowed:
"Soon she'll blow up! Head off towards land!"
"Let the anchors drop", said Huitfeldt.
(4) And then there was silence on Dannebroge.
The pieces themselves did shoot.
And the fire stood high above mast and hull;
but the fellows stayed as was ordered.
He stood amongst them and looked around;
then he bent his knee that pious man -
and the vessel flew whence the flag had come.
16 сен 2024
