Icelandic overtones

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Justa a quick reminder that our broadcast time is now Fridays at 1 p.m. CT and Mondays at 7 p.m. CT on air or online at KYMNRadio.net — or anytime here on the Multe Music site.Here's a video that is stunning for its sound alone!

Søren Koldsen-Zederkof, who is a member of the Danish-Icelandic Viking band, [...]

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Getting all Norse-ken on us

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I've written about the Finnish-Norwegian group, Frigg, before. The Järvelä and Larsen sibling combination produces some great "powerfolk", as they call it.
Their website sums it up nicely: Hot Fiddles From Cool Scandinavia

Here's a recent video of Frigg playing at the 2009 Shetland Folk Festival — a festival that will celebrate its 30th anniversary next [...]

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Norse gods on the rocks…

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Earlier this year, I reviewed the new album, Óðinn, by the Danish/Icelandic group Krauka.
Krauka's video of the title track, "Óðinn", is now out and, just as I liked this track on the album, I think the video is pretty neat, too.

Filmed in Iceland, the group is seen playing their music in the  steaming [...]

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MultePod presents: Ólavsøka / St. Olav's Wake

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St. Olav's Wake
Music from Viking times and celebrating Vikings to mark St. Olaf's Day, July 29.
If you're new to listening to audio online or downloading the shows, here's how to get started.
This Week's Playlist:Related Posts:MultePod presents: October FrostMultePod presents: First Edition (rebroadcast)MultePod presents: MidsummerMultePod presents: First EditionMultePod presents: Let It Rain!

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Album Review: Krauka – Óðinn

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The new Krauka album, Óðinn, recently came across my desk for review. According to the band's web site, it's the group's fourth release.
The copy I received was simply the CD in a sleeve with minimal information. I would have really liked to have had lyrics and liner notes included (whether in Icelandic, Danish or English) [...]

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Krauka: Immigrant Song

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When most people involved in traditional music  think of an immigrant song, they think of songs of longing for the old country.
This one is a little different. It's a cover of a Led Zeppelin tune from the 1970 album, Led Zeppelin III, by the Danish band, Krauka.
Immigrant Song
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the [...]

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Faroe Islands: Ormurin langi

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Here is a wonderful example of what is known as songdans (song dance) or langdans (long dance) or ringdans (ring dance). This type of dancing/storytelling goes back to at least Viking times.
These dances and stories were preserved in the Faroe Islands, where this video is from. The video is a great demonstration of this form [...]

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Icelandic folk dance: Langisandur

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A number of videos of traditional Icelandic dance have begun to appear on YouTube. I find this one particularly interesting.
This is an Icelandic dance from the long dance / song dance tradition that dates back at least to Viking times. These type of dances are also preserved in the Faeroe Islands. They were brought back [...]

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Swedish nyckelharpa on World of Warcraft

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It's fun when traditional folk instruments start showing up in unusual places in contemporary settings.
World of Warcraft (or "WoW") is a well-known multiplayer online game. Swedish nyckelharpa player Cajsa Ekstav is featured playing her instrument as part of the background music for some WoW scenes.

Here she's featured in Wrath of the Lich King – Grizzly [...]

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Lo, there do I see my father…

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One of my favorite " Viking" films is the movie, The 13th Warrior.
Just before the final battle scene, the Vikings say a "prayer" (of sorts) as they prepare for the conflict.
I don't know if this is really from Viking sources, but I must say that the words stirred something within me — a glimpse, [...]

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To Norway, Home of Giants!

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One summer in the early 1980s, the local public television station showed a comedy travelogue program called "To Norway, Home of Giants!"
The program, made in 1979 for NRK (Norwegian National Broadcasting), is in English and hosted by John Cleese of Monty Python fame.
The video quality here is not as good as I [...]

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