Faroese Ballad 'Gudbrandskvæði' - the last Heathen Chieftan in Norway

The 'Faroese Dance' is actually of French origin. The dance is a mediaeval ring dance, which only survived in the Faroe Islands, while in other European countries it was banned by the church, due to its pagan origin.
It's always accompanied by a Ballad.

THIS BALLAD: King Olaf of Norway is trying to convert the last Heathen Chieftan in his Country to Christianity.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Faroese
• Chaindance
• Ballad
• Kvæði
• Kvade
• Language

[MatthewEdwards1953]

Thank you Huldumavur for this wonderful example of a ringdance ballad - it is very easy to follow with your subtitles.

When is the best time to visit the Faroes to see this being performed? And where are the best places to go?

Matthew Edwards

[Huldumavur]

Well actually the dancing goes on mostly during winter, when the established dance clubs have their weekly dances, the culmination being around Shrovetide.

But if I was to come as a tourist, I would choose July 28-29 which is the St. Olaf Festival (national day) when you can participate in live dancing in the Capital Tórshavn.

[caemgen51]

So what's the relationship of ring dances to pagan Europe?

[Huldumavur]

Actually none I think. I've seen on some CD's they say it's pre-christian, but as I write in the discription, it started in Spain and France in the Middle ages (christian Europe).

But many of the Ballads accompanying it, are written about heathen warriors, dragons and and other pre-christian stuff.

[plaasjaapie]

Both this video and the selkie video only have part of the ballads. Is it possible to hear the whole thing on one or both cases? Thanks.

[Huldumavur]

Well, these are short-clip recordings made by me personally, but you can go to the svf-homepage (Far. Television) and watch the Selkie Ballad in full version.

I sent you the link by Message.

[helgipunk]

Þetta er yndislegt!

Oft liggur við að mér finnist Íslenska og Færeyska ver sama tungumálið, talað með sitt hvorum hreimnum.

Tungumálið ykkar er dýrgripur sem verður að vernda! Látið ekki Dönsku, Ensku eða Íslensku spilla því, við getum leiðbeint ykkur eftir okkar starf við að hlúa að Íslenskunni, en sækið hvorki orð eða málfar til okkar eða annara, heldur gerið það alt af Færeyskum grunni. Það er hið besta ráð sem ég kann að gefa ykkur.

[Regin82]

Elski føroyskan sið:) Føroyar = awesome!:D

[origamibugado]

Danm I need to know the rest of the history!!!

[Regin82]

Góða Ólavsøku! :D

[ThomasRowsell]

@Huldumavur i went in july last year and never saw any chain dances :(

[Skopuningurin]

Fantasktisk. Mær dámar so væl hattar lagið!

[irateofwatford]

Huldumavur, I'm not sure that I agree with your view either of the French origin of the dance or of the ring dance only surviving in the Faroes. You only have to consider the variety of rondes, branles, hanter-dro, an-dro etc which survive in French tradition, not to mention the earlier forms of sardana - the sardana curta - from Catalonia or the Greek dances.

[Treacherouslife]

Elsker dettte kvæd! tak for at uploade det! :)