DCD34181-CD

Ice and Longboats: ancient music of Scandinavia

Scandinavia’s archaeologically known prehistory encompasses around twelve thousand years, culminating in the Viking period (c.800–1050AD). The Middle Ages then followed, around six hundred years later than in continental Europe – a late development due to the long period in which ice still covered Europe’s northern parts.

Volume 2 in Delphian Records’ groundbreaking collaboration with the European Music Archaeology Project constructs a soundscape of these two periods, featuring both music improvised on Viking instruments, and notated songs and instrumental items from the early centuries of Christianity in Scandinavia.

"a delight start to finish...The singers' timbre is pure-toned but characterful as they deliver a lovely array of medieval hymns and antiphones, sometimes backed by the tawny sound of the tromba marina."

"This meticulously researched album from Sweden’s Ensemble Mare Balticum imagines the instruments Vikings played and the voices they sang with...The instrumentals are pretty dry, but the singing of Ute Goedecke and Aino Lund Lavoipierre is gorgeous: two pure and fulsome voices, beautifully matched."

"an intriguing series...documented in a lively manner"

"This is your opportunity to hear a possibility of what these instruments sounded like... to be transported to a different world. It's ear-opening - there are revelations here. It's a while since anyone has tackled this ancient music with such determination and imagination over a series."

Producers: Paul Baxter & Rupert Till
Recording venue(s): Oppmanna Parish Church, Sweden
Recording dates: 5-8 September 2015
Physical format: Jewel case
Number of discs: 1
Number of tracks: 29
Release date: 29 July 2016
Total playing time: 1:16:28
Album ID: DCD34181

Album Booklet

You may also like ...

Spellweaving: ancient music from the Highlands of Scotland

Dragon Voices: the giant Celtic horns of ancient Europe

Sounds from Classical Antiquity: Apollo & Dionysus

The Edge of Time: Palaeolithic bone flutes from France & Germany (EMAP Vol 4)

Subscribe