[Regia-NA] FW: Völuspá interactive; Songs of Vala

[Douglas Sunlin]

A rich source of (mostly) untapped literature. A group called Sequentia made 
an album of the Elder Edda, sung in Old Norse, with translations given in 
the notes. Most of the major works are included. It's not light listening, 
but it gives a really effective introduction to the Norse culture....



On manrćden,
Osweald of Baldurstrand
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/California_Viking_Age
http://www.geocities.com/baldurstrand/





>From: "Nicholson, Andrew" <andrew.nicholson@dumgal.gov.uk>
>Reply-To: list-regia-na@lig.net
>To: "Manx Camp (E-mail)" <TheManx@yahoogroups.com>,"Regia eGroup (E-mail)" 
><regia@yahoogroups.com>,"Regia NA (E-mail)" <list-regia-na@lig.net>
>Subject: [Regia-NA] FW: Völuspá interactive; Songs of Vala
>Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 12:19:58 +0100
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vance Pollock [mailto:vancepollock@HOTMAIL.COM]
>Sent: 10 September 2003 11:11
>To: ONN@morgan.ucs.mun.ca
>Subject: Völuspá interactive; Songs of Vala
>
>
>http://www.runecast.net <http://www.runecast.net>
>
>I just had the good pleasure of attending a presentation and concert for 
>the
>Vala's Runecast project here in Iceland. English translations of all the
>verses of Völuspá have been set to music and performed by Kariina Gretere.
>Her work is part of a larger "interactive" runecast. I would compare the
>experience to a cross between A Europe of Tales
>http://www.europeoftales.net/ <http://www.europeoftales.net/>  and a
>multi-media presentation by Timothy Leary I saw a few years back. It is a
>bit like a video game, or rather, a much better Nordic version of the old
>arcade "Gypsy Witch" where a mannequin clunkily points to a card, a worn 
>out
>speaker says something you can't hear over the other amusements and a
>fortune on an orange card is spit out.
>If viewed purely as amusement, and for the attention it could bring to the
>literature (which also includes verses from Hávamal), it is a worthy
>project. Certainly all the people involved have a love for the culture, and
>it shows.
>The music is amazing. I am sorry that it is not available yet. It was
>performed in the concert here by Kariina and a band of Icelandic girls that
>had been thrown together and given two weeks to rehearse: electric guitar,
>percussion, keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric bass, cello and piano, plus
>spoken segments provided by the two actresses who play Vala in the 
>Runecast,
>the English and Icelandic.
>IT WAS ENCHANTING! I have never been so moved by such a full-scale modern
>multi-media tribute to the Edda! Probably because there never has been one.
>
>I will finish with the words for two of the songs that can be heard in demo
>versions at http://www.runecast.net <http://www.runecast.net>  translation
>by Maureen Thomas. Voices and music Kariina Gretere.
>
>The Seer, Vala, calls for hearing, promising to tell of Humankind
>Völuspá verse 1
>I crave your hearing,
>Higher and Lower,
>Heimdalls kin, and
>Hallowed children.
>Do you wish me, weary,
>to tell forth well
>The tales of our forebears -
>The first I know?
>
>The Three Norns
>Völuspá verse 20
>Thence come women
>Wonderfully wise -
>Three from the water
>That washes the Tree;
>The first named 'Is'
>Her fair sister 'Was' -
>They scored the rune-staves -
>'Shall-be' is the third.

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