![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWbSWYw3yHY3fsM5rfYinfSdCJukvYGQ2nXf8HrxbHQa5/image.png)

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<center><h1> A Musical  ![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTwk7hyEEvdGbhQfLSv1AAPcr5nHw1hrN5eDDYQLpUYDR/image.png) Journey </h1><sub>please note, all green links take you to a sample song or website for that artist</sub></center>

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One of my many quirky pleasures is finding new international music in the shadow of fairies. 

Unlike my family, I've always had wanderlust - a yearning to travel and experience other cultures. By the time I was 20, I had traveled to a handful of countries by myself, looking for a tribe. This opened me up to a whole new world of music.

My family was not musical by any long shot, nor inclined to mix with different cultures. I struggled for a few months in junior high to learn an instrument per the school requirement, but as no one in my family was musically inclined, I was never encouraged or supported in this direction. 

My parents had odd taste in music; from [Herb Alpert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5pl6W2CFE), [Renaissance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1XeEx-Aruc&index=14&list=RDpiY4mt4F9xg) and the [Beatles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vefJAtG-ZKI) to the soundtracks from [Hair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPLg5gA-9ck&list=RDxPLg5gA-9ck&t=50) and [Jesus Christ Superstar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlOxUcTcUH0&list=RDyleuZbY8rKk&index=33), however music was present only as a seldom used condiment. 

Even given my brothers penchant for the [Allman Brothers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VxoXn-0Ezs) and [Frank Zappa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzfzsKENCbU), my first musical foray was a tame [James Taylor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOIo4lEpsPY) album. My musical tastes never really surfaced in the stifled structure of my jersey classic rock peers, who dictated a love for [Led Zepplin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlNhD0oS5pk), [Pink Floyd](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-E7_VHLvkE), and [Queen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ). 

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfzL1yLh9no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<sub> The Waterboys "Mad as the Mist and Snow", courtesy of YouTube </sub>

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Still, my interests were clear in high school. I loved social sciences, and my first courses at Rutgers centered around Native American studies. After a trial major in sociology, I went on to declare anthropology my major.

My love of traditional music bloomed in college, when someone re-introduced me to traditional Celtic family based band [Clannad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clannad).  I'd discovered their music on my pub crawl tour of western Ireland, along with the [Chieftains](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og-GDHjTUv4), [Moving Hearts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvGFEAUEfzE), and the [Waterboys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-oJKYIinQ) . (Of note, Clannad younger sister [Enya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enya) would come to international attention for a new age single,  [Orinoco Flow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X9ACtw)). 

Listening to the music of [Clannad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YhqHR1JIVg), I felt like I was connecting to a piece of my soul. Even though I didn't understand the lyrics, written in Irish Gaelic, I loved the repetitive phrasing, call and response, the strange instruments and the whole culture surrounding music as an integral part of life. 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZP-4B7kHqA
<sub> Clannad - Siúil A Rún, courtesy of YouTube </sub>

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There was something in the mood and intonation that fascinated me, as if I was born a different person from a past life. I searched out all of Clannad's albums, started attending Irish Festivals to learn about other traditional and alternative Irish groups, delved into Celtic culture, took up Gaelic (the traditional Irish language), and even studied the history and polytheistic roots of Celtic religion.

Eventually this love of traditional music spread out to a love for all international music, as my travels through numerous countries and continents brought me into other cultural spheres. I was entranced by the digeridoo, the bodhran and bagpipes. I sampled Buddhist chants and Peruvian folk songs. Although my interest has waxed and waned, I am still very much drawn to the essence of the traditional song.

My most recent inclination has been towards Norse, Faroese and [Sami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people) traditional music. Sami are indigineous Scandanavian nomadic people.  

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6IyVzmetPg&index=4&list=RDtfemcc4TK8s
<sub>Mari Boine - "Brother Eagle" - alba nelle Dolomiti; courtesy of YouTube </sub>

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I stumbled across [Mari Boine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kprl0CECykA), an incredible Norwegian Sami traditional singer, and from there it was a short hop to the likes of [Eivor](http://www.folkworld.de/40/e/eivor.html) and [Teitur](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dr0WgduMRo), both popular Faroese musicians.

For those of you unaware, the [Faeroe Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands) are an autonomous archipelago north of Scolland, and half way between Norway and Iceland, ruled under the guise of Denmark. However prior to 1814, for hundreds of years they were controlled by the Norse and their musical heritage is largely influenced by Icelandic and Nordic tradition.

It's important to note that traditional [Faroese music](https://visitfaroeislands.com/about/art-culture-sport/music/) relies solely on the blending of voice and the rhythmic stomping of the feet. While there are instruments now used in traditional music, most of them, like the fiddle, did not become widely used in the Faroes until after the mid 1800s. Today most of the traditional music still relies on vocal storytelling and ballads, accompanied by chain or ring dancing.

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/__iXQgJencw?start=60" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<sub>Faroese Chain Dance 1/2;  BBC documentary on Faroese ring dancing and song, courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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I recently had the good fortune to be informed that one of my favorite Faroese artists, Eivør, would be in concert quite close to where I live. Incredibly excited, I went immediately to buy tickets, only to discover the concert had been sold out even before it was announced! 

Heart-broken, I went on to the Facebook site to proclaim my disappointment and ask for another show to be added, with not much hope this would actually come to pass. Much to my delight, another date was added and I am now the holder of a GOLDEN TICKET!! (The second date has now sold out as well!!).

The first of Eivør's songs I ever came across was Trøllabundin, (Spellbound), an original composition using harmonic throat singing accompanied only by a shamanic frame drum. This primal song hooked me and I was soon off googling every Eivør song and article I could find.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpiFmZLICgM
<sub>Eivør - Trøllabundin, courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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Eivør Pálsdóttir  is incredible! She has a versatile, transcendent voice that can seem mystical and ethereal or earthy and sultry. She started her career at age 13, and has dabbled in pop, synth, jazz, classical, rock and of course traditional Faroese music. She joined a rock band at 15, released her first album at 16, was invited to be part of the collaborative art and world jazz music group [Yggdrasil](http://www.kristianblak.com/yggdrasil) at age 19.

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![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUqAkkT61bHC96oaWRjby2YVMfzejxeJGciRx9SRYUvYN/image.png)</center>

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During her 18 year career, Eivør has put out 17 albums (in Faroese, Icelandic and English), sung for the Faroese National Orchestra, played lead in several operas and won numerous musical awards.  She has also recorded tracks for TV series such as The Lost Kingdom and Downton Abbey. Over the past decade Eivør has gradually veered away from traditional arrangements and is working on more eclectic and experimental styles which showcase her wide range of musical and artistic talents.

One song that haunts me is  Í Tokuni (In the Mist). For days I would wake up with this song playing in my head, for it talks of depression, loneliness, and an elemental dream state that seizes the imagination with ancient images and yearnings.

><i>
Walking in the mist
Alone in the deep silence
Can´t see any cairns
Gone are all the houses
I call out but no one answers
 
In between the gaps
In the mist-clad night
I sense shadows
Seems as though something is moving there
I call out but no one answers me
 
Friend, friend can you see me
Walking here in the mist
Have you wandered as i have
In the silence deep as death</i>

<sub>courtesy of  https://lyricstranslate.com/en/i-tokuni-mist.html</sub>

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqnMkUcTmys
<sub>Eivør -  Í Tokuni , courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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In my Shoes is a song written in English,  yet employs a some traditional foot stomping in the video to emphasize. Eivør channels a style reminiscent of [Kate Bush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW3gKKiTvjs) - an artistic eclectic renaissance, with her vocal range and eccentric costume design.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILgM-NpNBWo
<sub>Eivør -  In My Shoes , courtesy of YouTube</sub>


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Surprising to me was the fact that  Eivør is merely a supporting act for a band called [Wardruna](http://www.wardruna.com/), whom I'd somehow never heard of before. (slipping!)  Apparently others had, so I decided to see what Wardruna is all about. You see, I'd bought the ticket for Eivor, not really caring who else was on the bill. 


<center>
![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXehomgXU3xHeLMwrdZy4Ep4CgFEVJEn2fxKc9Q67dFjW/image.png)
<sub> from https://www.bouldertheater.com </sub></center>


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After a bit of research, I found that Wardruna is a Norse band which uses instruments and lyrical meters found in old Nordic source material. Little did I know, I had probably heard some of their work already in the History Channel Series [Vikings](https://www.tunefind.com/show/vikings). 

Excellent! Since their music is right up my alley, I'm very much looking forward to this concert, and hope to do a post concert article as well. For now, I will leave a few more teaser videos which might inspire others to discover the exceptional beauty, imagery, and raw emotional transcendence of these musicians.

So far my favorite Wardruna song is Týr, an epic ballad to the Nordic God of justice and heroism. Of note, the English word Tuesday is derived from Týr's day. In fact, most of our week days are named after Norse gods!  [Týr](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I1geB7U5VI) is also the name of a popular Faroese folk metal band. 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co8Qo4hTyb4
<sub>Wardruna -Týr , courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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Another favorite is a lovely circular call and response song, Solringen, (Ring of the Sun) literally the sun's cycle, a nature song that speaks of the seasons and the fantastic creatures which inhabit Nordic mythology. 

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><i>The sun wheeled in its ring
the summer she sent
Roosters crowing waking songs
for elves in the meadow
 
strength in the body, growth in the earth
 
Roosters crowing - galders growing
Norns spinning - fates binding
Gods crying - wolves howling
Ravens shouting - giants sleeping
Shadows threatening - barley swaying
Fields growing - sun shining
Wolves hunting - sun fleeing
Roosters crowing - galders growing</i>

<sub>courtesy of https://lyricstranslate.com/en/solringen-ring-sun.html</sub>

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txViS4WWSuQ
<sub>Wardruna - Solringen, courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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The last incredible song I will cite is Raiđō, the word an old Norse rune meaning 'ride' or 'journey'. The ![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTwk7hyEEvdGbhQfLSv1AAPcr5nHw1hrN5eDDYQLpUYDR/image.png)- rune in Old Norse poetic forms is found in Icelandic, Anglo-Saxon and Nordic rune poems. [Raiđō](https://chris-anne.com/themoderncurio/raido-rune-meaning/) speaks of the journey in life, allowing a path to lead you in a new direction.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fnPwj1AMpo
<sub>Wardruna - Raido, courtesy of YouTube</sub>

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Writing about this has been cathartic in so many ways. Don't you just love incredible surprises?

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articles and sites of interest:

[Throat Singing](https://folkways.si.edu/throat-singing-unique-vocalization-three-cultures/world/music/article/smithsonian)

[Traditional Music Channel - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4gNHCugaKSSCpaI2hL2Jmg)

[The Faroe Islands](https://visitfaroeislands.com/)

[Celtic Music](https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-celtic-music-types-history.html)

[Sami people – the indigenous people of the north](https://nordnorge.com/en/sapmi/?News=57)

[Traditional Music.org](http://www.traditionalmusic.org/index.html)


<sub> top page image, the Faroe Islands, courtesy of Pixabay Creative Commons</sub>