Steingerðr's Beauty - Old Norse Song

Music & vocals by Farya Faraji, lyrics by Kormákr Ǫgmundarson. Many thanks to my friends Delphine and Étienne for lending their IKEA-level Nordic looks to this video. This is another attempt at conveying a historically plausible rendition of what Scandinavian music of the Viking Age would have possible sounded like.

Whilst the Norse (more specifically the Vikings) are more popular than ever in pop culture, and Norse-themed music is everywhere, almost all of that music is creative in nature and doesn't seek to be historically accurate--the current audience is therefore inundated with tons of examples of very enjoyable music that is more modern and fantastical in nature than historically accurate. I wanted to add my humble contribution to the Norse-music landscape by providing a more historically informed example of what the actual music of the Norse may have sounded like, rather than music that evokes our modern pop culture idea of the Vikings like with the excellent Wardruna or Heilung bands.


The poem is found in both the Gunlaug saga, as well as Kormákr Ögmundarson's sagas. In the story, he recounts him falling in love with the beautiful Steingerðr who loves him back, but is married with another man. The poem recounts the instant they both fell in love, and the knowledge of the impeding doom that this spells for them in the future. The poem was written in Iceland in the 900's.

The clip was filmed in Banff National Park, in Canada. I actually filmed it almost a year ago, but massive editing delays meant I couldn't finish the clip until after winter, and it just felt weird to release such a winter-themed clip at spring's door, so I just waited and thought I'd open this year's winter season with this clip.

Lyrics in Old Norse:
Brámáni skein brúna
Brims und ljósum himni
Hristar hǫrvi glæstrar
Haukfránn á mik lauka;
En sá geisli sýslir
Síðan gullmens Fríðar
Hvarmatungls ok hringa
Hlínar óþurft mína

English translation (Jackson Crawford’s):
The linen decorated woman’s hawk fierce eyes shone beneath her fair forehead upon me.

But the shining light from that woman’s eyes is preparing ruin for me, and no less for her.

[faryafaraji]

Music & vocals by Farya Faraji, lyrics by Kormákr Ǫgmundarson. Many thanks to my friends Delphine and Étienne for lending their IKEA-level Nordic looks to this video. This is another attempt at conveying a historically plausible rendition of what Scandinavian music of the Viking Age would have possible sounded like.

Whilst the Norse (more specifically the Vikings) are more popular than ever in pop culture, and Norse-themed music is everywhere, almost all of that music is creative in nature and doesn't seek to be historically accurate--the current audience is therefore inundated with tons of examples of very enjoyable music that is more modern and fantastical in nature than historically accurate. I wanted to add my humble contribution to the Norse-music landscape by providing a more historically informed example of what the actual music of the Norse may have sounded like, rather than music that evokes our modern pop culture idea of the Vikings like with the excellent Wardruna or Heilung bands.



The poem is found in both the Gunlaug saga, as well as Kormákr Ögmundarson's sagas. In the story, he recounts him falling in love with the beautiful Steingerðr who loves him back, but is married with another man. The poem recounts the instant they both fell in love, and the knowledge of the impeding doom that this spells for them in the future. The poem was written in Iceland in the 900's.

The clip was filmed in Banff National Park, in Canada. I actually filmed it almost a year ago, but massive editing delays meant I couldn't finish the clip until after winter, and it just felt weird to release such a winter-themed clip at spring's door, so I just waited and thought I'd open this year's winter season with this clip.

Lyrics in Old Norse:
Brámáni skein brúna
Brims und ljósum himni
Hristar hǫrvi glæstrar
Haukfránn á mik lauka;
En sá geisli sýslir
Síðan gullmens Fríðar
Hvarmatungls ok hringa
Hlínar óþurft mína

English translation (Jackson Crawford’s):
The linen decorated woman’s hawk fierce eyes shone beneath her fair forehead upon me.

But the shining light from that woman’s eyes is preparing ruin for me, and no less for her.

[ScrimmyBingus]

I think people forget that the Norse were more than just badass warriors. They had their own unique and beautiful culture.

[toubi]

Historically accurate ancient Norse music is severely underrated, it would seem.

[bogdannarancic]

Where throat singing 🤬 *angry 12 year old noises*

[garroshhellscream]

Wow, ta pieśń jest naprawdę świetna. Słuchając czułem się, jakbym przesiadywał w wielkiej hali i przy palenisku popijał miód. Nikt nie potrafi zrobić tak pieśni, tak oddającej klimat. Byle tak dalej! Pozdrowienia z Polski 🇵🇱

[KnightofGaming]

You and Skaldic Bard need to have a Latin duo song and a Norse duo song! Hopefully more will hear and feel the history in your music. Well done man. Your songs are even helping me learn languages I never thought I wanted to learn.

[YiannissB.]

Screw Pitbull, this dude is the OG Mr. Worldwide!

[disconnected]

Farya can literally teleport anywhere he damn pleases. This I know

[LightGlyphRasengan]

Idk why, but the historical accuracy and authenticity gets me more engaged than whatever else is claimed to be Scandinavian tunes

[quostad]

Beautiful music and stunning scenery, classic Farya.

[SkaldBard]

Awesome job, my friend! Lovely sound and beautiful shots!

[dat_chip]

As a musician, I'm embarassed how little I know about the history my own country's music. Traditional Danish folk music generally doesn't seem to get a lot of public attention. It's great to see someone bring some focus on it, and even putting in this kind of effort too. Much appreciated!

[kirkdougherty]

As an American whose paternal ancestry is mostly Swedish and Danish, I've returned to Farya's channel because he's simply the best at tapping into whatever culture that he presents here. He makes me think of mankind as a garden of many beautiful flowers. I only wish that many would stop focusing on our differences and just enjoy the beauty of this garden. Thank you! ❤

[paulastefania]

The music and the landscape are both of breathtaking beauty!!!

[OneFlyingTonk]

Another day, another farya banger. Each time you post a song your skill with the musical tradition visibly improves by sheer fact of experimenting, going from a simple lyre tune of a singular bard for an epic talking video to something you could well have seen done by a hired band of musicians (much like the Þrymskviða). ¡Excellent work!

[wildcaterpillar]

Greeting FROM Banff, AB, born and raised. Love your work

[designerr]

Очень красивая песня, спасибо тебе за неё ❤
Пусть твое творчество и дальше трогает за душу

[fuferito]

I love the tiny Morricone accents with the little flute.

"Light from the woman's eyes is preparing ruin for me?"

Each red blooded one of us has been there, and still gone ahead.

[tylerbrubaker]

A song that would awaken the Valkyries from their slumber ❤️‍🔥

[farshaddehqani]

On time this is exciting. Thank you Farya ❤️