Rímur
Ríma (plural rímur) is a traditional form of narrative
Icelandic epic song chanted or intoned in a specific manner called “ad kveda.”
The inner structure and content can partially be traced to Eddic and Skaldic
poetry of the Viking Age. The
rímur rely on the complex metaphors called “kenningar” (singular kenning) and
the poetic synonyms called “heiti.”
The Skaldic poetic stanza was an extremely intricate
construct with a unique poetic vocabulary and syntax, frequently employing
metaphors within metaphors in a manner reminiscent of the cryptic crossword.
In the 14th century, the ríma started to supplant the
earlier forms of poetry – its attraction being a simple metric style with end
rhymes, usually divided into three types: ferskeytt, braghent and afhent. While
internal rhyme was a central feature of old poetry, end rhyme first appears in
the poem “Höfudlausn” (Head Ransom) in the Saga of warrior-poet Egill
Skallagrímsson (10th century), where he manages to reprieve his head by heaping
praise on his captor, the king of England. End rhyme was then popular in the
British Isles and it has been surmised that Egill introduced it to the
Icelanders. The form of the ríma also shows influences from other European
traditions of the 13th and 14th century:
the short lyric
introduction to each ríma-section called “Mansöngur”
(maiden-song) has been traced to Germany, and the style called “blómadur” has a
counterpart in the flowery and ornate mode of early French romantic poetry.
The early rímur are primarily based on pre-existing
narratives in prose, heroic tales, and mythical or purely fictitious Sagas
being those most frequently selected for adaptation into this metrical form.
The poet usually begins with a certain number of introductory stanzas, the
maiden-song, where he laments his lack of poetic skills and success in the
affairs of the heart. He then starts converting the prose narrative into rime.
After building to a climax, he breaks off and the first ríma is finished. Then, usually in a different metre, he begins
a new maiden song, followed by a different portion of the tale. This process is
repeated until the whole narrative has been worked into metrical form. The
subject and the length of the tale can vary in length and scope, and the number
of rímur can stretch from two up to a few dozen. Single rímur are less common,
but the less formal “lausavísa”
(single stanza) introduced a shorter and simpler form into the tradition. As
time went on, the poets took pride in inventing new metrical forms and rhyme
structures, and in the 19th century these were counted in the the thousands.
While the literary tradition of the rímur is well documented
from the 14th century, there is scant evidence of their actual performance. In
“Sörlarímur,” one of the earliest examples of the genre, the poet refers to the
dancing that accompanies his recital, and in the 17th century the term “dans”
or dance was synonymous with poetry. An essay called “Qualiscunque Descriptio
Islandiae,” which was probably written by Bishop Oddur Einarsson in Copenhagen
in 1588, describes a
performance which may refer to a performance analogous to a
rímur recital: “They select one who has mastered the art of kvedskapur (istam
cantillandi artem). He recites for a while some sort of introduction with a trembling
voice and in a hesitant fashion (tremula ac titubante quodammado voces).”
It is well documented that the Icelanders enjoyed a special
form of communal story-telling and poetry recitals from the earliest times, and
these seem to have developed into the institution of “kvöldvaka” (night-vigil),
of which the chanting of rímur was an integral part.
In 1589, Gudbrandur Borláksson wrote in the preface to his
book of hymns a pious diatribe against this practice, and said that his aim
with the publication was “lastly in order to have thrown out the undesirable
poems of giants and heros, rímur, love songs, amorous songs, lustful songs,
mocking and satirical songs and other evil and wicked recitation…which are
used and loved by the peasantry of this land to the sorrow
of God and his angels, but to the delight of Satan and all his spawn, a
practice more widespread than in any other Christian land and more suited to
the practice of heathens than Christian folk at their night-vigils and other
gatherings.”
In 1634, the Reverend Sigurdur Oddsson wrote a letter to his
bishop complaining that the sacred writ was faring badly in competition with
the impromptu secular entertainment that was practiced outside the churches,
and that people would often leave in the middle of the service to listen to
various tall tales of the heros of yore. He furthermore complains that one his
parishioners had confided to him that “next to hearing about the passion of the
Lord he enjoyed nothing more than the Rímur of Rollant: I must gloss over the
fact that many would sooner listen to Rímur of Brana, Arinnefja et cetera than
listen to the pious song of the church...”
In 1746, the ruling authorities issued a decree to priests
saying that they should “caution the people of the household with the utmost
gravity to guard themselves against undesirable stories and unreasonable fables
and ballads which have been abroad in the land.” In the same year another decree was aimed at the pater
familias stating that he should “diligently remind his children and his
servants to begin both work and business with a prayer to God…and they must be
earnestly reminded, on pain of punishment, to guard themselves against unseemly
talk and sport, oaths and swearing, vain stories or so-called Sagas and licentious
poems or rimes, which are not seemly for a Christian and which sadden the Holy
Ghost to hear sung or said forth.” And the main proponent of the Enlightenment
in Iceland, Magnús Stephensen, wrote an essay in 1808 lamenting the “horrendous
howling of rímur” which he saw as an enemy of more tasteful musical practices.
But the Icelanders stuck to their most popular form of
entertainment, and, needless to say, these best of intentions did not succeed,
and in the mid-19th century people started to write down and notate the old
rímur melodies. The monumental work of Reverend Bjarni Borsteinsson on
Icelandic folk-songs devoted a special chapter to rímur and its publication in
the years 1906 - 1909 and is a landmark in the preservation of the old
tradition.
Furthermore, in the year 1903, Jón Pálsson made the first
sound recordings of rímur and others soon followed suit. The result is an
enormous collection of melodies that serve as a living and vibrant link to the
past, as the last few years have seen a revival where the old tradition is no
longer considered anachronistic, but something that needs to be studied and
cherished. Hopefully this collection can be seen as part of that revival.
Notes on the recording process
When Steindór first contacted me about this project, I was
thrilled to be part of a rímur recording which was not done for archival
purposes and furthermore I saw this as a chance to put to test some theories
which maintain that the special intonation of the rímur was a direct result of
the environment in which they were performed. Some authorities maintain that as
the rímur were performed in anechoic or non-reverberant spaces such as the
traditional sleeping loft or out in the fields, their vocal style developed
differently to musical styles where people “sang into spaces” such as churches
or chambers where the acoustics become part of the performance.
To this end, I contacted sound engineer extraordinaire
Sveinn Kjartansson and we decided on using a portable 24-bit Pro-Tools set-up
with Apogee AD 8000 converters so that we could record in different locations
chosen by their inherent acoustic properties. Our microphone of choice was the
Calrec Soundfield, which is in my humble opinion simply the best microphone
ever produced. The Calrec Soundfield is unique in the sense that it also
records spatial information and becomes in effect an auditory time-machine, as
you can move it in different directions after the recording – this is done by
recording on four discrete tracks and using a special console where the focus
can be moved back and forth, up and down, as well as to the left and right of a
standard stereo recording.
Tracks 1 to 7 were recorded in the small confines of the
traditional badstofa, and the perspective was that of a member of the household
listening in a typical evening wake situation. Tracks 8 to 11 were recorded in
a small turf church and the
perspective was that of a member of the congregation. A
winter-storm raging outside makes its presence felt from time to time,
appropriately it reached its height when Steindór chanted stanzas about
turbulent weather at sea…
Then we moved to the Salurinn Concert Hall, which is known
for its beautiful acoustics, and tracks 12 and 14 feature pairings with other
elements such as a didgeridoo or another chanter, while tracks 13, 15 and 17
are examples of rímur chanting in a modern musical environment. We changed the
set-up for tracks 16 and 18 as we wanted more control over the subtle nuances
of Monika’s Irish harp: these were recorded with Sveinn Kjartansson’s other
über-microphones, a pair of the special edition Bruel and Kjær DBA 4040 and a
pair of B & K 4041.
- Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
In 1929 the society IDUNN was formed in Reykjavík. The aim
of the society was to preserve the tradition of Rímur-chanting. The majority of its members were people
who had moved to the city from the countryside and missed the old times when
the evenings at the farms were passed by listening to the old epic songs. The
memory of the communal sleeping loft, or badstofa, where the traditional chores
of weaving, spinning and knitting were enlivened by the chanter or kvædamadur,
was lovingly recreated, and people gathered together to chant the old rímur and
started to think of ways of preserving the heritage.
The society became a sort of living museum in itself –
people from different parts of the country came forward with different strands
of the tradition, and finally, in the years 1935 – 1936, a new technology
arrived that would be instrumental in recording this heritage for posterity.
The silver-disc recordings from that period are still a vital part of the
workings of the society: since then young people have listened to the
recordings as they try to master the art of “kvædaskapur.” Up to the present
day the members of the IDUNN society meet once or twice a month and chant for
each other, and they have resolutely ignored passing fads or periods where
their endeavours were at best labelled quaint and old-fashioned. This quiet
activity went unnoticed for a number of years, but of late, more and more young
people have started looking for the origins of Icelandic music, and in
consequence have discovered the treasures so well preserved by the society.
With this revived interest, IDUNN has for the second time embraced an emerging technology,
and now has a presence on the internet, through the website www.rimur.is, where
interested parties can access all sorts of information relating to the
society’s activities and the different metric structures of the rímur poetry,
listen to old recordings and much more.
Steindór Andersen has been president of the IDUNN society
since 1997.
Steindór Andersen
(1954 –)
Steindór Andersen was born in 1954. His early interest in
the poetry of the rímur led to his introduction to the IDUNN society where his
unique talent as kvædamadur
was soon noticed. Steindór has taught rímur chanting at
seminars and workshops, and these and his appearances on TV and radio have
contributed to the revival of the rímur tradition in recent years. His
collaboration with the Icelandic group Sigur Rós, resulting in tours in Europe
and the United States, has sparked an unprecedented interest in this hitherto
neglected musical form.
Steindór has of late been part of various projects whose aim
has been cross-cultural fertilization with the intent of bringing the rímur to
a wider audience, but at the same time he has been instrumental in preserving
the “bare bones” of the tradition so that others may draw inspiration or
enjoyment from this simple, yet elaborate, form of music and poetry.
Steindór has for many years worked as a fisherman and as
captain of his own ship called Idunn.
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
(1958 –)
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson was born in 1958. Since the early
eighties he has been a prominent part of the Icelandic music scene, shifting
with relative ease between genres, and his work has at some time or other been
classified as rock,
electronics, avant-garde, jazz or neo-classical. He has
worked as producer for a variety of artists ranging from teenage death-metal
bands to established blues legends such as Pinetop Perkins and Jimmy Dawkins.
He has written music for over 20 feature films and in 1991 was awarded the
Felix Prize (the European Oscar) as European Film Composer of the Year for his
work on the film “Children of Nature” which in turn was nominated for an Oscar
in the Best Foreign Film category.
After living for many years abroad he has returned to
Iceland and, as his recent collaborations with Steindór Andersen and Sigur Rós
suggest, his native musical roots as well.
Jón Sigurdsson
(1853 – 1922)
A self-taught manual laborer who worked on various farms
throughout his life, yet found time to write poetry which brought him some fame
among his contemporaries. Best known for “Rímur af Atla Ótryggssyni” which he
wrote with Símon Dalaskáld.
1. Atlarímur
I
The poet starts off with a mansöngur, but only with an
indirect nod to the fairer sex. He starts to ruminate on the art of poetry and
on bad influences from abroad.
2. Atlarímur
II
Further thoughts on poetry. In a twist on the usual
mansöngur theme, where the poet talks about his own shortcomings, the author
starts to decry the output of one of his fellow poets who is accused of envy,
malice and total lack of talent.
3. Atlarímur
III
The poet now finishes the mansöngur after stating that the
audience is growing weary of his musings. In mid poem he shifts over to the
story of how Atli and Bödvar fight over the hide of an ox as each tries to
cover himself in bed. The results are a torn hide and a splintered bed.
A very rough translation of the first verse:
My eloquent tongue was tied,
tired and growing numb.
In bed under an ox’s hide
Atli deigned to slumber.
Jón S. Bergmann
(1874 – 1927)
Sailed the seven seas and lived abroad for some time. It was
said that after a seven year stay in England he could write poetry in English
as well as in Icelandic. His strength and courage were also remarked on and
these no doubt served him well when he later in life became Chief Inspector of
Police in the township of Hafnarfjördur. His poetry is strongly moralistic,
with themes that frequently address
the rights and wrongs in life.
4. Epigrams
A selection of aphorisms: Time will never lay to waste what
one has tasted in youth. Old age still enjoys the warmth of childhood memories.
Sigurdur Breidfjörd
(1798 – 1846)
The greatest of the Rímur poets. He learned the cooper’s
trade in Copenhagen, was in the Danish mercantile service and lived for some
time in Greenland. Although hampered by an imperfect education, he was well
read and did some translations as well as using foreign material as the source
for some of his work. He lived an unsettled life with alcohol and poetry as his
two mainstays and died of starvation in Reykjavík, unjustly neglected and
maligned by a younger generation of poets and intellectuals who wanted to
abandon the entire rímur tradition to the dustbins of history. He was immensely
popular in his day as a poet and personality, and even today, his way with
words, technical wizardry, humour and humanity command respect and admiration.
5. Gunnarsrímur
Based on the story of one of Iceland’s most beloved heroes,
Gunnar Hámundarson from the Saga of Njal.
Battle rages, blood flows.
Rough translation of the fourth stanza:
Each along a blade had brought
biting edges wielded.
He slew them without second thought,
mightily then Gunnar fought.
9. Jómsvíkingarímur
The poet moves from the mansöngur to the eve of a
battle. The first scene is at sea in a howling storm.
13. Númarímur
I
An ode to the land that fostered the poet. A
mansöngur where the maiden is the land itself.
16. Jómsvíkingarímur
II
The mansöngur moves from women in general to one fair maiden
in particular. The poet dwells on the
memory of one he once loved.
18. Númarímur
The sun rises and everything comes alive, the meadows glow,
the mountains glitter and the earth spreads out her arms in embrace.
The Reverend Hannes Bjarnason (1776 – 1838)
Hannes Bjarnason received a good education, but started out
as a farmer who wrote epic poetry about bloody battles in his spare time. While
some considered his “Rímur af Andra Jarli” totally inappropriate for a man of
the cloth, they were written before his ordination and pale in significance to
some of the poetry he wrote about his parishioners later in life. He was fond
of the bottle and sometimes coarse,
but the reputation he left behind was that of a kind and generous man
and a good host whose humour and wit enlivened his surroundings.
6. Andrarímur
More bloodshed and battles. This poem puts most
splatter films to shame...
Bjarni Gíslason
(1880 – 1940)
His life, like that of so many of his contemporaries, was
marred by poverty and lack of education and opportunities. Even as a child he
was made to wander between farms where he earned his keep as a laborer, but
somehow he managed to learn to read and write and find solace in his poetry. In
one of his poems he says that all he asks for is “another day and a good
horse.”
7. Epigrams
A contemplation on life and on the difficulty of pleasing
others. “Every tie that ties me down fetters the spirit.”
Herdís Andrésdóttir
(1858 – 1939)
She and her twin sister, Ólína, were born on the island of
Flatey in a small community of fisherman and farmers. When they were three
years old, their father perished along with the entire crew of the island’s
main fishing boat. Twenty children
lost their fathers and their lives were changed forever. Both sisters, however,
became noted poets, respected and admired by all those who knew them. Professor
Sigurdur Nordal wrote this memorable description of the sisters: “They were
aristocrats in their poverty, towering above all pettiness and trivialities in
thought and conduct, high-minded, unblemished, kind and pure of heart.”
8. Upptíningur
The poetess writes about the great in the small, on the
beauty of mother nature and on how her embrace will soothe the pains and
sorrows of a lifetime.
Sigurbjörn Jóhannsson frá Fótaskinni (1839 – 1903)
The late 19th century in Iceland was a period of vile
weather, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, drift ice and an all time low in
agriculture and fishing. There was an ensuing wave of emigration to Canada and
America, and Sigurbjörn Jóhannsson sailed with his family to the “West-World”
in 1889. Fiercely proud of his
roots and origins, he published one book of poetry in Winnipeg a year before
his death. His daughter, Jakobína Johnsson, became a gifted poet in her own
right and an accomplished translator of Icelandic poetry and drama.
10. Lysing
af hesti
Practical advice on how to buy a horse. Enumerates the
various virtues of the prime specimen.
Magnús Jónsson í Magnússkógum (1763 – 1840)
A farmer, carpenter, and artisan who still found time to
turn out one of the largest corpus of Rímur-poetry that survives today.
Well-liked and admired by his contemporaries, his well-crafted poetry still
retains its power and resonance.
11. Bernótusrímur
After various trials and tribulations at sea,
the king is still intent on battle...
Stefán frá Hvítadal
(1887 – 1933)
A master of rhyme and technique with his feet firmly planted
in the tradition, yet capable of opening up new vistas in Icelandic poetry and
bringing fresh winds from abroad. He travelled around Iceland reading from his
books like the wandering poets of legend, and his lifetime struggle against
poverty and disease left him unbowed, as he seemed to find something uplifting
in every adversity. As Halldór Laxness wrote: “The Cup of Delight is as
desirable to him on one hand as the Chalice of the Saviour is on the other.”
12. Haustid
nálgast
Autumn approaches, life grows shorter.
A rough translation of the 6th stanza:
Seek solace in the heavens you that cried,
the stars that shimmer are the rays of God
in the wintery night.
Stephan G. Stephansson
(1853 – 1927)
Known as the poet of the Rocky Mountains, he emigrated to America
at the age of 20, living successively as a pioneer in Wisconsin, North Dakota
and Alberta. His poetry, a marriage of prairie life and Icelandic tradition, is
unique, and in his time he was considered to be one of the greatest living
Icelandic poets. His reputation was such that he
was even hailed as the greatest poet in all of the British
Dominions. In 1917, he was invited back to Iceland and was awarded a reception
befitting a king.
14. Rammislagur
A song to the sea and its playful aspects.
Hjálmar Jónsson frá Bólu
(1796 – 1875)
His life epitomizes the struggle of the destitute poet
against the ignorance, prejudice and malevolence of his fellow men. But in his
satirical and sometimes vitriolic verse he gave as good as he got! He overcame
his lack of formal education by serious self-study and became an authority on
old lore and literature. His poetry remains a testament to one man’s heroic
fight against what the poet Matthías Jochumson called “a pitiless age of
miserly meanness.”
15. Göngu-Hrólfsrímur
Another song about the sea which is now
roaring and enraged.
Borsteinn Erlingsson
(1858 – 1914)
He entered the University of Copenhagen in 1883, but soon
fell under the influence of Georg Brandes and his circle, and gave up academic
life for poetry and social reform. He returned to Iceland, worked as a
journalist and tutor, but was finally awarded a small poet’s allowance from the
state. He was a dedicated defender of the weak and a tireless fighter against
hypocrisy in all its forms. He has
been called the Swinburne of Icelandic literature, and both in thought and
technique he has exerted a profound influence.
17. Lágnætti
It is night and nature sleeps.
1. Atlarímur I
By Jón Sigurdsson
Fagrahvelid gyllir grund
glatt med bel ad vanda,
nú bví gel eg hringa hrund
háttinn velstíganda.
Misjafn rómur mærdar er,
misjaft dómar falla,
syngja óma haukar hér,
hrafnar og lómar gjalla.
Misjafnt kjörinn mærdarhljóm
metur fjörug bjódin,
syngur hvör med sínum róm,
svona gjörast ljódin.
Sumir grunda gudleg ljód
gæfu skunda línu,
vísdóm stunda og vel hjá bjód
verja pundi sínu.
Sumir bráfallt málud mennt
mynda háfleyg kvædi,
bau vér sjáum brykkt á prent
bjóta um snjáa svædi.
Bessir hrinda heimsku í vind,
hródrar binda prydi
kærleik, yndi, eymd og synd
í hugmynda smídi.
Óttast hnjód og arnarleir
efldir fródleikssöfnum,
bæta módurmálid beir
medur bjódskálds-nöfnum.
Stundum skyjum ofar og
yrkin nyju bylja,
útlend drygja frædaflog,
færri bvílíkt skilja.
Lægri knapar lands um geim,
lærdómssnapir vidur
flestir apa eptir beim
opt bá hrapa nidur.
Skemmtun mjög sem margfaldar
mennta órögu vinir,
færa sögur fornaldar
fram í bögur hinir.
Rímur tídum borgast bezt
bó brjálist tídarandi,
sem albydan metur mest
mikid vída í landi.
Bær ad kveda á kveldin hér
kætir ged ad vonum,
saklaus gledi og bad er
ekrufreda sonum.
Hér um slódir ísa enn
á nymódins tímum,
hrósa fródleiks mestu menn
margir gódum rímum.
Sumir grídar svör med klúr
sverta og nída adra,
lygahydi löngum úr
lasta skrídur nadra.
2. Atlarímur II
Aptur og fram um haudrid hér
heldur vamma ríkir
mest til skammar sjálfum sér
seppar gjamma slíkir.
Hródrar frída höfunda
hugvits prydi ríka,
adra tídum öfunda
og bá nída líka.
Öfund skær og eitrad fær
ekki værast sinni,
sem bá æri soltnar flær
á svörtu gæruskinni.
Sín í beinin frid ei fá
fangnir meinum lasta,
nema reyna adra á
illum steinum kasta.
Ódarspyju æla bá,
ekki bvílíkt bætir,
svo ad klygju sumir fá
sannleik lygi mætir.
Mjög bann frakkur magnar sid
mannords blakkur bjófur
ljóta Bakka leirskáldid,
lygasnakkur grófur.
Skammahydi ei skelfir mig,
skal bad sídar reyna,
mest óprydir sjálfan sig
semja níd alleina.
Sæmir ekki sjálfsbóttinn,
sem hann blekkir ódum,
víst ei bekkir vanmátt sinn
og vonda skekkju á ljódum.
Göldum snáda gef bví rád,
geds um lád óhlydid
kefja brádast kerskni og hád
klám forsmáda og nídid.
Skálda metin skemmtiljód
skyrt og setja í letur,
vanda betur aumann ód,
ef hann getur tetur.
Ella greyid hætti hreint
hródrargeyi stirda,
vitrir segja sannleik beint
svars bad eigi virda.
Bvílík slæm er mærdar mennt,
mens ei sæmir lundi,
ef hún kæmi út á prent
illa ræmast mundi.
Snemma mjög um morguntíd
mansöngs bögur dvína,
mér til sögu bendir blíd
bauga fögur lína.
3. Atlarímur III
Mín vard undra mælskan lúd
um morgunstund á bedi,
bar sem undir uxahúd
Atli blunda rédi.
Gekk burt njóla en grund og haf
gylla sólin tekur,
stiginn bóli Bödvar af
börinn kjóla vekur.
Kvedju ei vandar komubeim,
kaldur í anda og gedi
skjótt upp standa skipar beim
skífir randa af bedi.
Gegnir eigi Atli bá
öldnum beygir geira,
grafkyrr treyju lundur lá,
lézt nú beigi heyra.
Toga fór bá hörd med hót
í húdina stóru Bödvar,
ekki sljór hélt Atli mót
uxabjórinn stödvar.
Randa haflar röskir tveir
rúms í gaflinn spyrna,
stundar kafla bannig beir
breyttu aflid firna.
Gaflinn sprengjast gjördi frá
gránadi drengja fundur,
rammt og lengi rykktust á
rúmid gengur sundur.
Gnötradi og stundi stofan hly,
stinnt til mundum brifu,
hamadir undrum höldar bví
húdina sundur rifu.
Negg ei bera nádu hrellt
nödru verar dynu,
slarkinu bvera sleit, en hélt
slitri hver á sínu.
4. Epigrams
Written by Jón S. Bergmann
Tíminn vinnur aldrei á
elstu kynningunni;
ellin finnur ylinn frá
æskuminningunni.
Verkin huldu sídar sjást,
sálarkulda sprottin;
hver, sem duldi alla ást,
er í skuld vid drottinn.
Begar háar bylgjur böls,
brotnudu á mér fordum,
kraup ég bá ad keldum öls,
kvad í fáum ordum.
Klónni slaka eg aldrei á
undan blaki af hrinu,
bótt mig hrakid hafi frá,
hæsta takmarkinu.
5. Gunnarsrímur
By Sigurdur Breidfjörd
Skundar teitur skeidar á
skjómabrumu valdur,
menn á heitir sína sá
sókn ad veita bestu bá.
Fjárins grúa vinnum vér
verdi ferd til bóta.
Sig nær búa fólkid fer
ferjugrúa hinna sér.
Ad beim vada víkingar
voda ædi syna,
eggsteinsblada íman bar
enn til skada hafin var.
Hver einn dregur hardmynntan
hjör og fer ad beita.
Gunnar vegur margan mann
mikillega bardist hann.
Bólgin unda radast rid
raud á súdir nidur.
Ærid mundi mannfallid,
marar stundu birnir vid.
Gunnar ædir eirdarlaust
eydir bjódar lífi.
Einatt skæd ad eyrum braust
eggja hrædilega raust.
Hljóda og veina hlífarnar,
holund skolar búka,
straumum einum æda bar
æla skeinur blódraudar.
Höndum tveimur vígur var
vopnaheppni drengur,
flatti beima fjölda bar
frægri hveim er móti var.
Beir Hallgrímur hlaupa á
hlunna – Gunnars – vara.
Hann ad ímu arngeiri brá,
andlátssvíma margir fá.
Margan vætir blódugt bad,
byrstur ristir begna,
Gunnar lætur grimmum ad
gildum fæti bá stiklad.
Barf ei eggja óvininn
ímugrímur hardi,
ad honum leggur arngeirinn,
undan seggur snerist hinn.
Inní slána fleinninn fer.
Færi sér nú Gunnar,
hann med láni hjörinn ber
handlegg frána kappans mer.
Höggid brytur handlegginn,
hót bá bítur eigi.
Naudum flyta nennir hinn,
nidur hrytur arngeirinn.
Gunnar brífur hann og hjó
Hallgrím allan gegnum.
Út bar lífi undin spjó,
í einu fífutyrinn dó.
6. Andrarímur
by the Rev. Hannes Bjarnason á Ríp
Högni laut en haudrid
flaut í hrugnis blódi:
eitthvad tautar Andri í hljódi,
ód sem naut ad stála rjódi.
Yfir herdar höggur sverdi
halsins snjalla,
hér vid verdur Högni falla,
hann bó gerdi særast valla.
Skyrtan góda skyldi módum
skjóma runni,
hrökk bá blód af Högna munni,
hann uppstód sem fljótast kunni.
Vitid missti, heiptin hristi
hringa njótinn,
Andra lysti launa hótin,
lamdi byrstur kylfu á brjótinn.
Hægra sundur hann ad stundu
handlegg brytur,
Andra mund úr hrottinn hrytur,
hann svo undan snúa hlytur.
Sem laminn hundur hljóp um
grund sá hjörnum sleppti,
Högna undan hræddur keppti,
og hélt hann mundi koma á eptir.
Högni Andra óstillandi eptir vedur,
hirdir branda hverr fram tredur,
hristist landid bysnum medur.
Andri hræddur,
Högni bræddur heipt, ei létta,
foldar bræddu ei feril rétta,
fram svo æddu á sjóar kletta.
Bá fram bar sem brítugt
var ad borska lundi,
flug-hamar, en urd stór undir,
umferdar ei greitt bar mundi.
Andri brammar barna fram af,
byrmdi ei beinum,
um skeljungs damm ad skeri óhreinu,
skvampadi hrammi medur einum.
Högni gildur, hörku fyldur,
hljóp ei minna,
eflaust vildi Andra finna,
ekki skyldi hann fyrri linna.
Hikadi eigi hjörva sveigir
hvals vid móinn,
ætlar ad fleygja sér í sjóinn,
sama veginn heiptum gróinn.
Dvergar tjádir tóku rád,
beir teygdu klædi,
hvar á brádur Högni nædi,
hlaupa ádur félli í grædir.
7. Epigrams
Written by Bjarni Gíslason.
Bad er vandi ad sjá um sig,
svo ei grandist fridur.
Hvert bad band, sem bindur mig,
bælir andann nidur.
Kvedur norna kalda raust
-klidur fornra strauma-
aftur morgnar efalaust
eftir horfna drauma.
Bad er vandi ad velja leid,
vinna fjöldans hylli;
láta alltaf skrída skeid
skers og báru á milli.
Bad er öllum búningsbót:
bæta úr göllum ljótum,
strída föllum strauma mót,
standa ei höllum fótum.
8. Upptíningur
Written by Herdís Andrésdóttur.
Tálid margt bó teflum vid,
tjáir vart ad flyja.
Veiku hjarta veitir frid
vorid bjarta, hlyja.
Strykur glóey grösin smá
geislalófa bydum.
Lautir, flóar litkast bá;
leysir snjó úr hlídum.
Bröstur hátt med kátum klid
kvedur brátt í runna.
Bar er dátt ad dreyma vid
dásemd náttúrunnar.
Vorid hló og hratt sig dró
heim á gróin engi,
bar sem lóa í lágum mó
ljúfa sló á strengi.
Himins stóli háum frá
hverfa njólutjöldin;
tímgast fjóla túni á;
tekur sólin völdin.
Bydur fangid hlytt og hljótt
hlídarvangi fagur,
vidarangan - engin nótt,
allt er langur dagur.
Mitt vid hæfi á módurarm
mun ég gæfu finna.
Bar skal svæfa hjartaharm
heillar ævi minnar.
9. Jómsvíkingarímur I
By Sigurdur Breidfjörd
Mína lúna ljódarún
lét ég núna bída,
útá brúna ysutún
ormar húna skrída.
Reidinn söng bar rídur bröng
ránin ströng ad bordum,
skelfur röng en ráarstöng
rambar á löngustordum.
Landid hafid leiddi í kaf
lyra vafid búdum,
blikar traf vid bláa haf,
bodar skafa af súdum.
Byljir bráir böndin slá
í byrs ósmáu kjörum
marrar rá vid rakka há
ruggadi láin knörum.
Freyda bodar flennist vod
á flydru stodar búdum,
brimid bvodi brjóst á gnod
bulladi froda á súdum.
Stormar hvína, súdasvín
sundid bryna örva,
vedur hrína grafin gín
Grædis dyna sörva.
Í Vík bar bundu húnahund
Hrana Bundar kjóla,
Túnsberg fundu Hárs um hrund
ad háttastundum sólar.
Óvart verdur adför gerd
audnuskerdum lydi,
djörf var ferd bví drengjamergd
dregur sverd úr hydi.
Bjó bá stund í bustarhund
brandabundur nyti
heftir blund um háttastund
hét Geirmundur hvíti.
Brynjud bjód med Bölverksglód
í bæinn vódu nauma.
Vekja bjódir víkings hljód
vid ógódu drauma.
Ei var skjól bó rekkar ról
reyni um stóla dynu,
Hranasólin heli fól
hvern í bóli sínu.
Geirmund sér ad ekki er
ad eiga hér vid gaman;
í loft eitt fer ad forda sér
og föngin bera saman.
Leist Geirmundi litla stund
líf bar mundi verjast,
útá skundar gróna grund
bar garpar undir berjast.
10. Lysing af hesti
Written by Sigurbjörn Jóhannsson
frá Fótaskinni.
Ef bú selja meinar mér
makka skeljung gódan,
kosti telja hlyt eg hér,
hann svo velja takist bér.
Álits frídur, frambrekinn,
fjörs med strídu kappi,
fimur, bydur fótheppinn,
fetatídur, ganglaginn.
Stutt med bak og breitt ad sjá,
brúnir svakalegar,
augu vakin, eyru smá
einatt hrakin til og frá.
Makkann sveigi manns í fang,
munn ad eigin bringu,
skörpum fleygist skeids á gang,
skrokkinn teygi fróns um vang.
Bolinn, hraustur grjót og grund
grípi laust med fótum,
vadi traustur ekru und,
eins og flaustur taki sund.
Enga hrædist undra sjón,
ad bótt slædast kunni,
viss ad bræda veg um frón,
vænn á hæd og frár sem ljón.
Leggjanettur lidasver
lag sé rétt á hófum,
hardur, sléttur, kúptur hver,
kjóstu betta handa mér.
11. Bernótusrímur
By Magnús Jónsson í Magnússkógum:
Gat bess fyrr ad besta byr
börvar fengu stála,
begar frá grund á bilju hund
borska sigldu um skála.
Dægur eitt var drengjum veitt
dáda leidid fína,
hvessti bá, svo bylgjan blá
bardi módur sína.
Áflog ljót med heiptar hót
höfdu dætur Ægis,
beirra tusk og reidirusk
reyndi jórinn lægis.
Dröfnin vex, um dægur sex
drengir hrekjast nádu
til og frá um lysulá,
land um sídir bádu.
Settu fley á eydiey,
upp svo gengu hradir;
kannad bá og sig um sjá
seggir fengu gladir.
Hernad í vill halda frí;
hilmir bidur ríka
fljótt í svip ad fá sér skip,
og fræga drengi líka.
Fylkir tér: “Bad færdu hér;”
fimm lét búa skeidur,
sex og manna hundrud hann
honum valdi greidur.
Kóng og frídan landsins lyd,
lofdungs kvedur nidur,
sté á gnod og glæsta vod
greitt upp vinda bidur
Kólga og dröfn, bá hélt af höfn,
hilmis arfa lutu
bylgja, og údur blakar súd,
byrsins seglin nutu.
Dundi röng, en stundi stöng,
styrin marra og rumdu,
murra hjól, en urrar ól,
öldujóar brumdu.
Saung í reida golan greid,
gyltar vodir bandi,
bar til sjóla arfi ól
eggja hríd med brandi.
Hervíkinga hetjan slyng
hjó og reyndi vigur
sumarid heitt, og hel gat veitt,
hafdi jafnan sigur.
12. Haustid nálgast
By Stefán frá Hvítadal
Sólin blessud sígur raud til vidar
glóa á lofti gullin sky,
grátklökk áin nidar.
Haustid nálgast, hríd og vetrarrosinn,
senn er ekki sólar von,
senn er áin frosin.
Lóan horfin, lokid söngvafulli,
rökkvar hér, en sudræn sól
sveipar hana gulli.
Ógnar myrkrid oss á nordurströndum,
innra grætur ódfús brá
eftir sudurlöndum.
Eigum vér bá adeins myrkar nætur,
enga fró né innri hvíld,
engar raunabætur?
Himinn yfir.
Huggast bú, sem grætur.
Stjörnur tindra, geislar guds,
gegnum vetrarnætur.
Vetrarnóttin varla mun oss saka,
fyrst ad ljósin ofan ad
yfir mönnum vaka.
13. Númarímur I
By Sigurdur Breidfjörd
Módurjörd hvar madur fædist
mun hún eigi flestum kær
bar sem ljósid lífi glædist
og lítil sköpun broska nær?
Í fleiri lönd bó fengi drengir
forlaganna vadid sjó
hugurinn bangad brengist lengi
er beirra fögur æskan bjó.
Mundi ég eigi minnast hinna
módurjardar tinda há
og kærra heim til kynna minna
komast hugarflugi á?
Jú ég minnist fóstra forna
á fjöllin keiku sem bú ber
í kjöltu binni kvöld og morgna
kvikur leikur muni sér.
Um bína prydi ad benkja og tala
bad er tídast gledin mín
í högum frídu hlyrra dala
hjörd um skrídur brjóstin bín.
Smala hlydinn hjardar fjöldinn
heim ad lídur stekkonum
bar ég síd á sumarkvöldin
sat í vídibrekkonum.
14. Rammislagur
By Stephan G. Stephansson
Grána kampar grædi á,
gjálpir hampa skörum,
titra glampar til og frá,
tifur skvampa í fjörum.
Ögra læt mér Ægis-lid
upp úr sæti malar,
Ránar dætur dansa vid
deigum fæti kjalar.
Undir bliku beitum bá
bát og strikid tökum.
Stígum vikivakann á
völtum kviku-bökum.
Gólf er lidugt, löng og stór
leikjarsvid hjá unni.
Spriklar, idar allur sjór,
ystu mid ad grunni.
Utan sendar öldur sér
áfram henda og flyta,
vilja ad lendi í lófa mér
lödurhendin hvíta.
Byljir kátir kvedast á,
hvín í sátri og hjöllum.
Báruhlátrar hlakka frá
hamralátrum öllum.
15. Göngu-Hrólfsrímur
By Hjálmar Jónsson frá Bólu
Hnitbjarganna beiskan brunn
burtu vann ad fjara,
ljónum hranna yttu á unn
Yggir glanna svara.
Rauk glymjandi Ránar mey,
rumdi band og bilja,
undan landi flana fley,
fokkur bandi kylja.
Yfir skapta humra höll
Hræsvelgs kraptur gnúdi,
reif upp kjaptinn Ránar tröll,
rumdi, gapti, spúdi.
Öldu hundur Ægis drós
einatt sundur klippti,
skalf og drundi skessan sjós,
skutinn undir lyfti.
Gramdist sneypan gletturík,
gusum steypa dugdi,
ofar keipum flennti flík,
fleyin gleypa hugdi.
Kári bykkist frekt vid fljód,
fram svo rykkir biljum,
líkt sem hrykki elding ód
undan skrykkibyljum.
Barst úr sjónum foldar fles
fyrir sjónir mennsku,
bylja sóninn hirti hlés
hyddi ad fróni ensku.
Slétti geflur bylgjan brett,
brosleit eflir gaman,
masturs trefla línid létt
lydir hefla saman.
Beittu ad strandar breidri hlein,
brims um granda vídan,
beyttu í sandinn bungum flein,
bustu á landid sídan.
16. Jómsvíkingarímur II
By Sigurdur Breidfjörd
Uni hjá mér hringaslód
med hyru gedi,
eg fer bá ad yrkja ljód
en adrir kvedi.
Eftirlátar ætíd mér
med ásynd rjóda
sitji kátar sætur hér
vid sönginn góda.
Eyrum dilli, ytar flytji
ordakvidur,
bétt á milli svanna sitji
söngvasmidur.
Man ég eina af mjúku hjarta
milda í ordum
ennishreina og hárabjarta
hjá mér fordum.
Hvarfla augu hyr og
snör um hvarmabólin
eins og laugud ljósa spjörum
ljómi sólin.
Hvít og rjód er reflagná
med roda svinnum
eins og blód sé brætt í snjá
á bádum kinnum.
Nettar hendur klappa kunna
í kærleiks standi.
Hvar sem stendur seimasunna
er síbrosandi.
Hún er rjód og hvít í kinnum
hdr í ordum.
Bannig stód hún mér í minnum
málud fordum.
17. Lágnætti
By Borsteinn Erlingsson
Margoft bangad mörk og grund
mig ad fangi draga,
sem bær anga út vid Sund
eftir langa daga.
Bundinn gestur ad ég er
einna best ég gleymi
medan sest á sumri hér
sól í vesturheimi.
Ekki er margt sem foldar frid
fegur skarta lætur,
eda hjartad unir vid
eins og bjartar nætur.
Kvikt er valla um sveit né sjá
svo ad kalla megi;
raddir allar bagna bá,
begar hallar degi.
Sofnar lóa er löng og mjó
ljós á flóa deyja;
verdur ró um vídan sjó,
vötn og skógar begja.
Hérna brunnu blóma munn
brosin sunnu vidur,
nú ad grunni út í unn
er hún runnin nidur.
Stjörnur háum stólum frá
stafa bláan ósinn
út vid sjáar ystu brá
eftir dáin ljósin.
Utar bída óttutíd
Ægis frídu dætur,
bar sem vídi sveipar síd
sól um blídar nætur.
18. Númarímur II
By Sigurdur Breidfjörd
Farsældin med fridnum er
sem fadmar brjóstid varma;
strídid sæmd og sælu ver
sára vekur harma.
Eins og lind og ládid á
lognid breidir klædi
engir vindar anda ná
af bví fyrir mædi.
Bá úr heidis háum stad
hita sólin rydur
og hárid greidir gullfjallad
í gaupnir jardar nidur.
Yfir sáir ylnum gód
allt eins lá og heiminn
hverju strái á hverri lód
hjúkrar bá ógleymin.
Glóa hagar glitra fjöll
gylltar fljóta idur
bar flatmaga foldin öll
fadminn breidir vidur.
Allar myndir land og lá
lofa heppni sína
drekka yndisanda bá
endurlifna og hlyna.
Allar rætur vakna vid
vöxt og aldin bera
betta læt ég líkast frid
lognid mega vera.
All songs performed by Steindór Andersen
Produced by Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Engineered by Sveinn Kjartansson
Mastered by Ronnie Thomas at Mastermix, Nashville, Tennessee
Cover Art courtesy the National Museum of Iceland
Design by corkboards
Executive Producer, Dolores Canavan
Naxos World extends special thanks to Rósa Borsteinsdóttir
at the Arni Magnusson Institute, Iceland.
