Skalla-grimr, Icelandic dog names and the nocturnal weasels of Mozambique


The amazing Icelandic sound poet, Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl (check out his sound poems based on the names of dictators) put out a call for non-Icelandic speakers to write poems in Icelandic. I decided to create an electro-acoustic sound poem (linked below) based on a recording of Egil's Saga in Icelandic, plus samples downloaded from a page of Icelandic dog names.

Also included are Tajikistani string instruments, and a variety of drums (Taiko, Moroccan, drumset). Each sample was filtered through software which applies a variety of cutting out & repeating procedures.

I've sent the piece to Eiríkur to ensure that the Icelandic text doesn't inadvertantly insult my mother, all the mothers of Iceland, or request financial advice from the nocturnal weasels of Mozambique and am waiting for his Icelandic OK.

In the meantime, here is the piece. Take that you nocturnal weasels of Mozambique! When I say that all your sinks and tortoises are burnished aqueducts of lonesomeness, I really mean it.

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