Medieval Iceland

Epitaph
Medieval Iceland
Sverrir Guðjónsson, counter-tenor.
Opus 111 OPS 30-253

Contents:

    I. Prologue: Sólarupprás (Sunrise)

  1. Lilja (God of all people)

    2. II. Árstídir (Seasons)

  2. Austankaldinn á oss blés (Tthe cold east wind blew around us)
  3. Sumarið þegar setur blítt (Summer - Joy and sorrow)
  4. Skipafregn (The long spring)
  5. Sumri hallar (Summer is passing)
  6. Góða veislu gjöra skal (Now is the time for feasting)

    7. III. Ást (Love)

  7. Blástjarnan þótt skarti skær (The shining blue star)
  8. Stóðum tvö í túni (Together we stood in the field)
  9. Eitt sinn fór ég yfir Rín (Once I crossed the river Rhine)
  10. Stúlkurnar ganga sunnan með sjá (The maidens are walking south by the sea)

    11. IV. Trú (Faith)

  11. Miskunnarbæn (Kyrie)
  12. Tunga mín vertu treg ei á (My tongue, be not reluctant)
  13. Vera mátt góður (You may be good)
  14. Lánið drottins lítum mæta (Praise the Lord)
  15. Einsetumaður einu sinni (The hermit)
  16. Guðs lamb (Agnus Dei)

    17. V. Náttúra (Nature)

  17. Veröld fláa (Wicked world)
  18. Bar svo til í byggðum (It happened in the hamlet)
  19. Ókindarkvæði (The troll song)
  20. Óll náttúran enn fer að deyja (Once again nature is dying)
  21. Kvölda tekur (An evening prayer)

    22. VI. Árdagar (Dawn of man)

  22. A solis ortus cardine
  23. þat mælti mín móðir (Thus spoke my mother)
  24. Sonarharmur (The son's lament)
  25. Svi vítt um heim sem sólin fer (The journeys of the sun)

    26. VII. Grafskrift (Epitaph)

  26. Ísland (Iceland)
  27. Móðir mín í kví, kví (Ghost song)
  28. Krummi (The raven)
  29. Grafskrift (Epitaph)

    30. VIII. Epilogue - Sólarlag (Sunset)

  30. Lilja (God of all people)

Playing time: 50' 25"

Performers:
Sverrir Guðjónsson, counter-tenor, Eggert Pálsson (percussion), Ólöf Sesselja Ókarsdóttir (viola da gamba), Camilla Söderberg (recorder), Snorri Örn Snorrason (lute)

Recording site and date:
Skálholt Church, Iceland [1998 or prior]

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.):
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.): 77/916-94 (july 1999)
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.):

Comments:
Information from owned CD.
These are traditional Icelandic songs and as said by the interpret: "Epitaph" has been given space and time to develop. It is a lifelong project which has grown and matured with age. The heritage of Iceland is preserved within these songs, which have been passed on from generation to generation, through the centuries.
The counter-tenor voice is exceptionaly pure.

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Pierre-F. Roberge