Edda - An Icelandic Saga - Myths From Medieval Iceland / Sequentia
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Free Music Notes for Edda - An Icelandic Saga - Myths From Medieval Iceland / Sequentia
Free Music Review: musicianship and scholarship in a perfect blend
Hit: 5 Stars
Sequentia, known primarily for their excellent interpretations of the works of Hildegaard von Bingen, turn their attention here to the poetry and music of 13th Century Iceland. With eager and well pursued scholarship, they have attempted to recreate a lost musical experience, down to the archaic pronunciation of the Old Icelandic. The music is eerie and affecting, the singing and playing are stirring, and the program is extremely solid.The sound of the lyre and fiddles (complete with droning strings) mesh perfectly with the powerful and beautiful voices as Sequentia sings, tells, and acts out ancient Norse Myths from the poetry of Snorri Sturlusson and others.
I guarantee you've never heard anything quite like this.
Free Music Review: For the Nordic Soul, an echo across time...
Hit: 5 Stars
I thought nothing like this existed, yet here it is! The Sequentia group sings ancient Nordic mythological poems, in very much the manner of ancient Skalds. The skald was a bard, or troubadour, of ancient Scandinavia. In the Sagas, many of the greatest skalds came from Iceland, a land colonized by Norwegians unwilling to live under the dictatorship of King Harald Harfa-gri (Harald Fairhair). The songs on this album are recited in Icelandic, a language that has changed only slightly from the Old Norse spoken by their ancestors. The style of performance is a specualtion, to a certain degree, but very much like that of most traditional Nordic folk music, traditions that have been passed on for centuries.Free Music Review: Stunning
Hit: 5 Stars
Stunningly beautiful and utterly haunting. This music has quickly rivalled the Anonymous 4 CDs as "most played" on my iPod, and I can't give a higher complement than that. My only regret is that, unlike medieval plainsong, this is the only CD of its type I've been able to find. (I hope one day someone does the equivalent with the Beowulf, Homer, and other epics.)
That said, it undoubtedly isn't for everyone. One has to like traditional music to enjoy this, and it certainly helps to know the Elder Edda. But if you're a fan of medieval music, epic poetry, or even just want something utterly different, give this a try.
Free Music Review: A great tool for learning as well as the musical enjoyment
Hit: 5 Stars
I am impressed by, actually, the insert book! It has 47 thin pages of history, lyrics, and translation.
I bought this CD because the only foreign language I really retain is from foreign music. The lyrics are decently clear for learning. I didn't expect the insert book to have Icelandic lyrics, but it has that and a translation. There is a summary on each of the poems also.
The music is a bit simple, but the real art is in the song. The singing could even go without instrumentation. The album is 76:52 minutes long.
Free Music Review: Great
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this CD so much that I can't think of what to say about it. For starters, the voices are wonderful - the combination of licoricey baritone, cool sopranos and spare instrumentals is both sensual and stark; the harmonies, sometimes only one note apart, are happy puzzles for the ear. More than the physical beauty of the music though, are the tales - familiar but told in an unfamiliar tongue and couched in the exotic imagery of pagan Iceland. This is like music in a dream - you know it but it's utterly strange and for me, mesmerizing.