In July of 2018 I spent a month in Iceland looking for performers of a stye of Icelandic folk singing called "tvísöngur." What I found was that the history of folk music in Iceland is far more complicated than I could have ever guessed.
I found myself asking: In a nation known internationally for its indie music, why is Icelandic folk music so hard to come by?
Thank you to the many musicians, researchers, and friends who contributed music, personality, and information to this episode. Special thanks to Gunnstein Olafsson, Linus Orri, Eyjolfur Eyjolfson, Orn Magnusson and Marta Halldorsdottir, Kimberly Cannady, Runa Inginumdardottir, Gudny Robertsdóttir Orlygur Kristfinsson, and Gustav Danielsson. Thank you also to the Icelandic folk music centre in Siglufjordur and Herhusid artist residency for hosting and helping me while I researched this topic.
My paper on tvísöngur for the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony October 2018: www.academia.edu/37863707/Tv%C3%A…rary_Performance
Fair Folk Patreon:
www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast
Music and Notes:
0:00 “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods
:50 “Ísland Farsælda Frón” by Jean Christian
2:40 “Ísland Farsælda Frón” by Kvæðamannafélagið Rima
4:00 Guðrún Ingimundardóttir and Svanfríður Halldórsdóttir
5:22 “Húmar Að Mitt Hinsta Kvöld” by Pétur Halldórsson & Símon Þórðarson
7:25 Baroque Cello and Langspil by Gadus Morhua
8:55 “Fagurt Syngur Svanurinn (Beautifully Sings the Swan)” by Spilmenn Ríkínís (Rikini Ensemble: Marta Halldórsdóttir, Örn Magnússon, Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir, and Halldór Bjarki Arnarson) - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
10:45 Langspil and Symphonie by Marta Halldórsdóttir and Örn Magnússon
11:15 Spilmenn Ríkínís (Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir) - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
13:00 Reykjavík Trad Sessions
14:00 “Langspils Kvæðalag” by Örn Magnússon
14:55 “Fryeja” by Gadus Morhua (Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson, Björk Níelsdóttir and Steinunn Arnbjörg Stefánsdóttir)
16:15 Duo Atlantica
17:45 “Ísland Farsælda Frón” by Jean Christian
20:00 Gustaf Danielsson and Örlygur Kristfinnsson
20:30 Gadus Morhua
23:35 Spilmenn Ríkínís (Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir) - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
26:00 & 27:45 Gustaf Danielsson and Örlygur Kristfinnsson
30:15 Speech: Marta Halldórsdóttir
31:10 Speech and diatonic langspil: Örn Magnússon
34:30 “Björt Mey og Hrein” by Duo Svanni
35:20 Speech: Guðrún Ingimundardóttir
French explorer mentioned is Paul Gaimard, author of Voyage en Islande et au Groënland
39:20 “Björt Mey og Hrein” by Duo Svanni
41:10 Spilmenn Ríkínís (Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir) - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
43:05 Speech: Ómar Ellertson
48:20 Speech: Linus Orri
55:00 Correction provided by Linus Orri: The author mentioned is actually Jón Þórarinsson
57:20 Spilmenn Ríkínís (Ásta Sigríður Arnardóttir and Halldór Bjarki Arnarson) - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
58:20 Speech: Örn Magnússon
59:15 “Fagurt Syngur Svanurinn (Beautifully Sings the Swan)” by Spilmenn Ríkínís - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
1:02:25 Speech: Linus Orri
1:03:40 Spilmenn Ríkínís - Recording courtesy of Arni Moller
1:06:30 Rímur by Linus Orri