A little flock from Iceland (Peter Bird): Difference between revisions
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==Music files== | ==Music files== | ||
{{Legend}} | {{Legend}} | ||
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{{Text|English}} | {{Text|English}} | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
I. | I. Lón<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Swans in Iceland: white on black.<br> | Swans in Iceland: white on black.<br> | ||
Line 33: | Line 34: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Men in longships, helmets bright,<br> | Men in longships, helmets bright,<br> | ||
Brought with them dozens of | Brought with them dozens of Irelandâs daughters.<br> | ||
Red-haired and white-robed, just as they caught her,<br> | Red-haired and white-robed, just as they caught her,<br> | ||
One of them walks all alone by the water,<br> | One of them walks all alone by the water,<br> | ||
Chanting her heart-song to the night.<br> | Chanting her heart-song to the night.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
âEala naofa: Tromhad annall!<br> | |||
Mine are the people that open the granary,<br> | Mine are the people that open the granary,<br> | ||
Hallow the home-linn and safeguard the eyrie.<br> | Hallow the home-linn and safeguard the eyrie.<br> | ||
Hear when I cry to you; come to me swiftly!<br> | Hear when I cry to you; come to me swiftly!<br> | ||
An cuidich sibh mi do comhall?<br> | An cuidich sibh mi do comhall?<br> | ||
âSeek a swan without a wife:<br> | |||
Kelwyn mac Boynton, of husbands the best.<br> | Kelwyn mac Boynton, of husbands the best.<br> | ||
When he will once lay his head on my breast,<br> | When he will once lay his head on my breast,<br> | ||
Itâs I will go swim with him, even to death,<br> | |||
Swan to be, beyond this life. | Swan to be, beyond this life.â<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Swans in Iceland watch their star;<br> | Swans in Iceland watch their star;<br> | ||
Auger the season by scent of the beach-wrack.<br> | Auger the season by scent of the beach-wrack.<br> | ||
When the | When the windâs northerly, ice in the grass cracks,<br> | ||
Wheeling they climb away, coasting the sea track.<br> | Wheeling they climb away, coasting the sea track.<br> | ||
Keening voices travel far.<br> | Keening voices travel far.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
II. | II. GrÃmsvötn<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Mountain of ice, beacon of white<br> | Mountain of ice, beacon of white<br> | ||
Line 70: | Line 71: | ||
Murky reeks of steam are rising<br> | Murky reeks of steam are rising<br> | ||
From a gaping hollow waxing<br> | From a gaping hollow waxing<br> | ||
âRound a seething tarn uncanny.<br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Now a groaning geyser opens;<br> | Now a groaning geyser opens;<br> | ||
Red flame leaps to heat the oven;<br> | Red flame leaps to heat the oven;<br> | ||
Loki strains; a chain is broken;<br> | Loki strains; a chain is broken;<br> | ||
Earthâs blood-rush is awoken.<br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Ashes flying; wind arising;<br> | Ashes flying; wind arising;<br> | ||
Line 82: | Line 83: | ||
To the gothi skiing nearer.<br> | To the gothi skiing nearer.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
âOthinn! Wise and just Allfather:<br> | |||
Bind the waters whirling blindly;<br> | Bind the waters whirling blindly;<br> | ||
Tame the streaming torrent! Kindly<br> | Tame the streaming torrent! Kindly<br> | ||
Spare your folk; you have no other. | Spare your folk; you have no other.â<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
III. Vestur | III. Vestur Grænland<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Leif Eiriksson of Vinland now returns <br> | Leif Eiriksson of Vinland now returns <br> | ||
To Eiriksfjord in Vestur | To Eiriksfjord in Vestur Grænland<br> | ||
With wealth of furs and timber. In the stern<br> | With wealth of furs and timber. In the stern<br> | ||
He watches fell and glacier running past<br> | He watches fell and glacier running past<br> | ||
To seek the floi where | To seek the floi where fatherâs fires burn.<br> | ||
They are alone. The shore is still and vast.<br> | They are alone. The shore is still and vast.<br> | ||
There is a rock to larboard. Fleet and wary,<br> | There is a rock to larboard. Fleet and wary,<br> | ||
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There is a wrecked ship upon the skerry.<br> | There is a wrecked ship upon the skerry.<br> | ||
And all might see, as drifting draws them nigh,<br> | And all might see, as drifting draws them nigh,<br> | ||
At least a dozen men; one | At least a dozen men; one womanâs form:<br> | ||
Norwegians all, if clothing does not lie.<br> | Norwegians all, if clothing does not lie.<br> | ||
Then up speaks Leifur, with a welcome warm:<br> | Then up speaks Leifur, with a welcome warm:<br> | ||
âI guess yeâll deign to sail with us today!<br> | |||
Drag up the wreck to keep it from the storm.<br> | Drag up the wreck to keep it from the storm.<br> | ||
Weâll build another ship in some still bay;<br> | |||
We have the timber and the ship-smith.<br> | We have the timber and the ship-smith.<br> | ||
But do not hold that ye should fly away;<br> | But do not hold that ye should fly away;<br> | ||
I find thee kin and kith, and herewith<br> | I find thee kin and kith, and herewith<br> | ||
Bespeak my | Bespeak my fatherâs will, inviting thee<br> | ||
To dwell and winter in our Brattahlith,<br> | To dwell and winter in our Brattahlith,<br> | ||
The homely house beyond the western sea. | The homely house beyond the western sea.â<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
IV. Drangey<br> | IV. Drangey<br> | ||
Line 125: | Line 126: | ||
Fall and die. The toll is growing.<br> | Fall and die. The toll is growing.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
He says: | He says: âThis island is no seemly seat<br> | ||
of elves, but moor of | of elves, but moor of mórar, tangi of trolls,<br> | ||
and geymir of the afturgangumenn.<br> | and geymir of the afturgangumenn.<br> | ||
By vald of Christ | By vald of Christ Iâll rinse these ills, and then<br> | ||
We may have peace, and end these wraithly tolls,<br> | We may have peace, and end these wraithly tolls,<br> | ||
So godly folk can gain | So godly folk can gain whatâs good to eat.â<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Strung upon a rope | Strung upon a rope thatâs blessed,<br> | ||
Guthmunder climbs cliff and aerie,<br> | Guthmunder climbs cliff and aerie,<br> | ||
Singing psalms and water casting,<br> | Singing psalms and water casting,<br> | ||
Hallowing, for all time lasting.<br> | Hallowing, for all time lasting.<br> | ||
âKria!â cry the terns; with fairy<br> | |||
Arrows biting he is pressed.<br> | Arrows biting he is pressed.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
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To his doom. Some wilder-wight<br> | To his doom. Some wilder-wight<br> | ||
Uncorks his store of words on height:<br> | Uncorks his store of words on height:<br> | ||
âGvendur, Gvendur, stop your blessing!<br> | |||
Even the evil need a place to live! | Even the evil need a place to live!â<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Guthmunder climbs down again to shore.<br> | Guthmunder climbs down again to shore.<br> | ||
âHere is some uncanny Grettirsson<br> | |||
Or outlaw with his house upon the isle.<br> | Or outlaw with his house upon the isle.<br> | ||
How can I cast the stone? | How can I cast the stone? Iâll bide awhile.â<br> | ||
He says, and sits him down a time alone.<br> | He says, and sits him down a time alone.<br> | ||
His hood it hides him like a skin before.<br> | His hood it hides him like a skin before.<br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
âHere at the worldes end, in this last bay,<br> | |||
Weâll leave a little haven on this rock<br> | |||
For those old souls who spurn eternal life<br> | For those old souls who spurn eternal life<br> | ||
(except as worthy names in saga strife)<br> | (except as worthy names in saga strife)<br> | ||
Until Atlantic billows drown this dock<br> | Until Atlantic billows drown this dock<br> | ||
And, like the sea-birds, all are flown away. | And, like the sea-birds, all are flown away.â<br> | ||
Revision as of 06:01, 12 July 2008
dronlia
Music files
ICON | SOURCE |
---|---|
File details | |
Help |
CPDL #11206: NOTEWORTHY COMPOSER
- Editor: Peter Bird (added 2006-03-10). Score information: Letter, 53 pages, 917 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Following the full score are: text pages containing the poems, with explanatory notes; flute part; violin part.
General Information
Title: A little flock from Iceland
Composer: Peter Bird
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsongs
Language: English
Instruments: SATB chorus, brief SATB solos, flute, and violin.
Published: 2006
Description: Based on 4 new narrative poems about dramatic encounters from ~900 AD to ~1250 AD. The first two are fiction, and the second two are based on historical events. Romantic in style; Modern in harmony. 18:15.
External websites: http://peterbird.name/choral/
Original text and translations
English text
I. Lón
Swans in Iceland: white on black.
Westward come wending, appearing in pairs;
Strong wing beats thunder in crystalline air;
Willfull to breed on the bourn of despair.
Iceland, Ireland: out, and back.
Men in longships, helmets bright,
Brought with them dozens of Irelandâs daughters.
Red-haired and white-robed, just as they caught her,
One of them walks all alone by the water,
Chanting her heart-song to the night.
âEala naofa: Tromhad annall!
Mine are the people that open the granary,
Hallow the home-linn and safeguard the eyrie.
Hear when I cry to you; come to me swiftly!
An cuidich sibh mi do comhall?
âSeek a swan without a wife:
Kelwyn mac Boynton, of husbands the best.
When he will once lay his head on my breast,
Itâs I will go swim with him, even to death,
Swan to be, beyond this life.â
Swans in Iceland watch their star;
Auger the season by scent of the beach-wrack.
When the windâs northerly, ice in the grass cracks,
Wheeling they climb away, coasting the sea track.
Keening voices travel far.
II. GrÃmsvötn
Mountain of ice, beacon of white
Standing alone in the Arctic darkness,
Home to the swans flying, hope to the seafaring,
Niflheim gleams in the morning light.
Up on the glacier the ground is grumbling;
Krinkling cracks spring open quickly.
Blocks of blue ice topple thickly,
Grinding shards from bitter heights.
Swarthy mists in every cranney;
Murky reeks of steam are rising
From a gaping hollow waxing
âRound a seething tarn uncanny.
Now a groaning geyser opens;
Red flame leaps to heat the oven;
Loki strains; a chain is broken;
Earthâs blood-rush is awoken.
Ashes flying; wind arising;
Thunder; spears of lightning crying:
Hell and Muspell are surprising
To the gothi skiing nearer.
âOthinn! Wise and just Allfather:
Bind the waters whirling blindly;
Tame the streaming torrent! Kindly
Spare your folk; you have no other.â
III. Vestur Grænland
Leif Eiriksson of Vinland now returns
To Eiriksfjord in Vestur Grænland
With wealth of furs and timber. In the stern
He watches fell and glacier running past
To seek the floi where fatherâs fires burn.
They are alone. The shore is still and vast.
There is a rock to larboard. Fleet and wary,
He calls to tighten sail against the mast,
Then takes the helm, turns to the wind, to tarry,
And still with vision sharp he skries the sky:
There is a wrecked ship upon the skerry.
And all might see, as drifting draws them nigh,
At least a dozen men; one womanâs form:
Norwegians all, if clothing does not lie.
Then up speaks Leifur, with a welcome warm:
âI guess yeâll deign to sail with us today!
Drag up the wreck to keep it from the storm.
Weâll build another ship in some still bay;
We have the timber and the ship-smith.
But do not hold that ye should fly away;
I find thee kin and kith, and herewith
Bespeak my fatherâs will, inviting thee
To dwell and winter in our Brattahlith,
The homely house beyond the western sea.â
IV. Drangey
Bishop Guthmunder is rowing,
Muttering banns to bind his temper:
To feed the hungry he must harvest
Eggs and slippery svartifugi
From the cliffs and heaths of Drangey.
So. The men he sends to nest
And harry, taking ropes and timber,
Fall and die. The toll is growing.
He says: âThis island is no seemly seat
of elves, but moor of mórar, tangi of trolls,
and geymir of the afturgangumenn.
By vald of Christ Iâll rinse these ills, and then
We may have peace, and end these wraithly tolls,
So godly folk can gain whatâs good to eat.â
Strung upon a rope thatâs blessed,
Guthmunder climbs cliff and aerie,
Singing psalms and water casting,
Hallowing, for all time lasting.
âKria!â cry the terns; with fairy
Arrows biting he is pressed.
A mickle hand is stretched to give
A snip, to drop the priest confessing
To his doom. Some wilder-wight
Uncorks his store of words on height:
âGvendur, Gvendur, stop your blessing!
Even the evil need a place to live!â
Guthmunder climbs down again to shore.
âHere is some uncanny Grettirsson
Or outlaw with his house upon the isle.
How can I cast the stone? Iâll bide awhile.â
He says, and sits him down a time alone.
His hood it hides him like a skin before.
âHere at the worldes end, in this last bay,
Weâll leave a little haven on this rock
For those old souls who spurn eternal life
(except as worthy names in saga strife)
Until Atlantic billows drown this dock
And, like the sea-birds, all are flown away.â