Some time ago, my Friend Monti (http://blog.bitcomet.com/monti84metal/), told me about an interesting musical project Folkearth (http://members.lycos.co.uk/folkearth/), created by musicians playing folk and viking metal. The name (folk + earth) symbolizes musicians from all over the world playing folk music. Started in 2004, the band released 4 albums:
"A Nordic Poem" (2004)
"By The Sword Of My Father" (2006)
"Drakkars In The Mist" (2007)
"Sons of Yore" (2008)
The idea itself to make few posts about this musical project and it connection with the Norse mythology and runes is very attrative for me.
This is why today I want to start with a song from their album
"A Nordic Poem" called Rhyming With Thunder about
THOR
Thor is a thunder god in Norse mythology. He came before the Aesir which makes his genealogy a bit confusing. Sometimes Thor is called the father of Odin and sometimes Thor is the son of Odin. Most often he is considered the son of Odin and, he and his brother Tyr, the god of War, are considered the sons of Odin with his wife Frigga. As God of Gods and as Father of Gods, it is supporsed that Odin had a lot of children from different women.
Thor was the strongest of the Aesir, the collective name for the the principal race of Norse gods; they who lived in Asgard, and with the All-Father Odin, ruled the lives of mortal men. Known as the god of thunder, his hall is Bilskirnir, which is located in the region Thrudheim ("place of might"). Thor married the golden-haired Sif, a Goddess of fertility. He kept a mistress named Jarnsaxa (the "iron cutlass"), with whom he had two sons, Magni and Modi and his daughter is Thrud. Their names are called in the song.
The Norse believed that during a thunderstorm, Thor rode through the heavens on his chariot pulled by the goats Tanngrisni ("gap-tooth") and Tanngnost ("tooth grinder").
Lightning flashed whenever he threw his hammer Mjollnir. Mjollnir ("that smashes") was made for him by the dwarfs Brok and Eitri, who made many magical objects for the gods.
Thor wears the belt Megingjard which doubles his already considerable strength.
His greatest enemy is Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent. At the day of Ragnarok, Thor will kill this serpent but will die from its poison.
His sons will inherit his hammer after his death.
Thor was foremost of the gods to the common man, who would call on him to ensure fertility, and widely worshiped. Hammer shaped amulets, a symbol of Thor because it was his weapon, were worn about the neck well into the Christianization of Scandinavia. His name occurs in numerous place names, and it was his statue which was central in the great temple at Uppsala.
Thor has lived on, not as a part of any religion, but on our weekly calendar. Thursday (Thor's Day) was derived from this mighty god.
And, of course, such charater as Thor couldn't be left without a rune dedicated to him.
THURISAZ
The 3rd rune in the Futhark. It represents a sharp thorn. By the extension of idea it also represents a blade or Thor's Hummer. The rune is also associated with the deadly bite of serpents. This runes suggests boundaries. When this rune appears, it is necessary to know your own limits. Thurisaz may indicate a time of personal risk. There may be people around you, who are being less than honest or who do not have your best interests at heart.
In drawing spells, Thurisaz was considered the EVIL rune and was the most powerful aid in harmful rune working, but it is so doublesided that it can back fire very easily and powerful. It was considered very powerful in procuring protection. Thurisaz is probably the most dangerous rune in the whole Futhark. It is considered, that when you are in the corner with enemies around you, this rune can help you to concentrate all you energy and through the thorn to defend yourself from enemies around you. This is why it was carved on the shields and blades of warriors.
Ralph Blum was considering this rune to have a healing power through WISDOM. The ability to accept and grow from life's lesson is the beginning of the wisdom. It is from wisdom that a tragedy becomes a teaching.
Rhyming With Thunder
Great God of the storm, Ruler of the skies above,
Mighty ever-warrior Thor
Thy name we call
Descend to Midgard
Great God of the gloom,
We summon you!
Rhyming with thunder, chanter the holy Galder!
Modi, Thruder, Magni - Thor!
Master of the tempest, lord of wintry call,
Modi, Thruder, Magni - He is Thor, one and all!
Swing thy holy hammer
Warriors revel in the sight
With swords upraised
To hail the pouring rain
I greet thee chariot rider,
Frost giants bane!
Never fall, always uphold this battle hymn of old!
Mortal kinsmen die,
As crops wither and subside
Wealth is passing by.
Yet eternal remains a glorious deed's name!
A legacy of honor, legend for tomorrow!
For what glory warriors await
Once their heyday goes under
Save a skald's praise, rhyming with thunder?
Swing thy holy hammer
Warriors revel in the sight
With swords upraised
To hail the pouring rain
I greet thee chariot rider,
Frost giants bane!
Never fall, always uphold this battle hymn of old!
Rhyming with thunder, chanter the holy Galder!
Modi, Thruder, Magni - Thor!
Master of the tempest, lord of wintry call,
Modi, Thruder, Magni - He is Thor, one and all!
The line up of "A Nordic Poem" is:
MARIOS KOUTSOUKOS(Greece)-all lyrics (except "Gryningssang"),keyboards
NIKOS NEZERITIS(Greece)-accoustic guitar
STEFANOS KOUTSOUKOS(Greece)-bass guitar
RUSLANAS(Lit)-spoken vocals
ATHELSTAN(Eng)-drums,guitars,
WULFSTAN(Eng)-guitars,bass,vocal
CHRIGIEL GLANZMANN(Swi)-uileann pipes,tin whistle,bodhran,
HUGIN(Aus)-keyboards
MAGNUS WOHLFART(Swe)-accoustic & electric guitars,bass guitar,keyboards,mouth harp,vocals,lyrics("Gryningssang")
JONAS FROBERG(Swe)-keyed fiddle,vocals
KRISTOFER JANIEC(Swe)-violin
JEREMY CHILD(Swe)-drums,vocals
WILLIAM EKEBERG(Swe)-cello,vocals
MICHELLE MAAS(Swe)female vocals
