An 800 year old hymn composed by an Icelandic chieftain, Kolbeinn Tumason, was sung in a German subway last month. The performance was captured on video where the acoustics of the gothic transporte render the ancient song with astounding resonance. The performing group is called Árstíðir and further the juxtaposition of ancient and contemporary as they swig beers at the end of the chorus. The song, Heyr himna smiður, is said to be written on the death bed of Tumason after suffering a mortal wound in battle. A translation of the beautiful melody is included below.
Heyr, himna smiður,
hvers skáldið biður.
Komi mjúk til mín
miskunnin þín.
Því heit eg á þig,
þú hefur skaptan mig.
Eg er þrællinn þinn,
þú ert drottinn minn.
Guð, heit eg á þig,
að þú græðir mig.
Minnst þú, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín.
Ryð þú, röðla gramur,
ríklyndur og framur,
hölds hverri sorg
úr hjartaborg.
Gæt þú, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín,
helzt hverja stund
á hölda grund.
Send þú, meyjar mögur,
málsefnin fögur,
öll er hjálp af þér,
í hjarta mér.
Listen, smith of the heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
thy mercy.
So I call on thee,
for thou hast created me.
I am thy slave,
thou art my Lord.
God, I call on thee
to heal me.
Remember me, mild one, (or
mild king. This is a pun on the word
mildingur).
An 800 year old hymn composed by an Icelandic chieftain, Kolbeinn Tumason, was sung in a German subway last month. The performance was captured on video where the acoustics of the gothic transporte render the ancient song with astounding resonance. The performing group is called Árstíðir and further the juxtaposition of ancient and contemporary as they swig beers at the end of the chorus. The song, Heyr himna smiður, is said to be written on the death bed of Tumason after suffering a mortal wound in battle. A translation of the beautiful melody is included below.