The melancholy jester

For 35 years, Hans Jørn Østerby has performed in thousands of venues, sharing songs, music, magic, ventriloquism, and more. Much like the jesters of the Middle Ages, his goal is to spread joy—even though he is melancholic by nature himself.

By Jens Linde

Medieval jesters could be found at castles, marketplaces, or church events, performing comedies, songs, music, and artistry such as magic tricks, fire-eating, and puppet shows. Hans Jørn Østerby from the village of Gjern near Silkeborg has embraced this tradition, and this November, he celebrates his 35th anniversary as a traveling singer and songwriter who combines music with ventriloquism, magic, drama, and biblical storytelling. He performs 120–130 times a year, and since starting in 1981, he has put on thousands of shows across several countries.

A mix of antics and Jesus
Hans Jørn Østerby discovered his ability to make people laugh and enjoy themselves while attending boarding school, and he has since turned that talent, along with his musicality, into a career. It is not all fun and games, however—he also has a message to share when he performs, much like the jesters and court fools of the Middle Ages who used their platform to deliver existential insights to their audiences.
"Great theater can make an audience both laugh and cry, and that is not a bad combination at all if you can manage to make people laugh while also being serious. If I can get a group of kids to laugh first and then sit completely silent and wide-eyed at a story about Jesus, that is fantastic. It is about finding a way to communicate that makes people listen, and I am not afraid to mix antics with Jesus—hopefully in an intelligent way. However, I prefer that what people remember afterward is the story of Jesus or the song about God, rather than the fact that I ate a balloon," he smiles.
"I often notice that parents, in particular, sit through my shows feeling a bit reserved and not expecting much, but once we get going, they slowly lower their guard, and then I can convey things they otherwise wouldn't have been receptive to."

Melancholic by nature
It is somewhat of a paradox that Hans Jørn Østerby makes a living entertaining people and spreading joy and Christian faith. He is, in fact, melancholic by nature—to such a degree that he wouldn't mind if he weren't here anymore. This is especially evident in his songs for adult audiences, where he puts words to the struggles that sometimes ravage his mind.
"I have never found it difficult to long for the day when I get to clock out. As a melancholic person, I notice everything that is going wrong—war and other miseries—and that makes me long for the end. My songs are largely about that—either in the form of lyrics about how heavy life can be, or lyrics about how wonderful it will be when God eventually restores everything that is currently broken."
"My faith in God has a lot to do with security. Beneath and above everything I do lies my faith. It is everything to me, and I don't know what I would have done without God. He is the constant that has always been there through the massive ups and downs I have had in life. He always says yes to who I am and is like a faithful father to me."

Divine undertones
Faith is the defining element of Hans Jørn Østerby's life. Even if you were to compare him to a non-believer, and there were a thousand similarities between them, there would still be a fundamental difference.
"We might both dream of vacations, cars, and houses. But as a believer, I have an anchor in life; a hope that the injustice in the world has an expiration date. God wants me; Jesus was here on earth because He wants all of us, and because He will do anything to reach us with His love. God is going to restore everything and make all things good. As a believer, I have the same physical and mental needs as everyone else, but God and the life to come are still the undertone of my existence."
When Hans Jørn Østerby communicates with God, it often happens during a walk—frequently covering 30–40 kilometers.
"I can't just walk into a room, close the door, and in 10 seconds grasp what God might be saying to me. I need peace and time to close some mental drawers to be able to receive thoughts from God. When I walk long distances, I get into a monotonous rhythm where my head is emptied of everything else, and then I can listen for input from God," he explains.

Antics with meaning
Ten years ago, Hans Jørn Østerby was in doubt when looking ahead: Should he continue living as a jester/entertainer/troubadour—or should he consider something else?
"I don't feel that way anymore—now I’m just continuing. I can easily keep going for another 10 years, until I’m 60–65 and ready to retire. It gives me a lot of energy to be out performing, so even though it can be physically demanding, it gives me a lot on the mental side," he explains.
My melancholy doesn't mean I have trouble jumping around and being upbeat – I can easily do that with my integrity intact. Furthermore, it makes a lot of sense to me – I get to share my faith in a positive way with a lot of people who don't exactly wear out the church pews on Sundays.

Photo: Jesper Rais

Hans Jørn Østerby

• Educated agronomist
• Author of four devotional books
• Has released five children's CDs and ten adult CDs under his own name. Releasing a new album for Christmas.
• Married to Gitte since 1984
• Father of four and grandfather to one boy