Saw them in Paris on 09-17. No words, just feel priviledged (?), more deeply human... and full of gratitude for the wonderful ritual I received as a blessing.
I saw Heilung 2 days ago for the first time live, it was insane. If you have the opportunity to go, don't hesitate it's worth every penny 👍 greets from Germany 🍻
The song is comprised of three elements. The beginning stanza and ending stanzas are a loosening charm (spell/galdr) from 8th century Germany, in High German. It is one of the Merseburg charms. The middle sections are from the Grögaldr, or Spells of Groa. Wherein a man summons his mother who was a dead witch to cast spells of protection on him, and between each spell they chorus is repeating Spell 25, a washing charm from a 16th cetury Icelandic magical text (Galdrbök). Reading the spells might offer insight into the performance.
On Heilung's page you can find a video covering most of the ritual: Heilung | LIFA Iotungard: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0G5Dj-xMpb8.html (Just over 1½ hours long) Set list: Opening ceremony In Maidjan Alfadhirhaiti Krigsgaldr Hakkerskaldyr Svanrand Norupo Othan Traust Elddansurin Hamrar Hippyer
@@neighborsue Are the two of you familiar with some of the other projects that Christopher Juul and Maria Franz are part of? If you haven't reacted to these before maybe you will want to save them for reactions. Video from Christopher Juuls page: (Maria and himself performing) Songleikr | Ulvetime (Hour of the Wolf): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FF9mtpw365c.html Video from the RU-vid page of Euzen (also created by Christopher Juul and Maria Franz. Kai Uwe Faust is listed as crew for the video) EUZEN - Phobia [Official]: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oq7oCR8l8Z0.html
Traust's lyrics are pulled from different incantations: one comes from the Merseburg charms (song of the Idisi - sung by Maria), one comes from Grógaldr (sung by Maria and interjected with a line by Kai and the other men), another comes Galdrabók. The song of the Idisi is a spell to free someone from their hardships, or literally, their binds or whatever is keeping them trapped in place:"Eiris sazun idisi, sazun hera duoderSuma hapt heptidun, suma heri lezidunSuma clubodun umbi cuoniouuidiInsprinc haptbandun, invar vigandun!" - "Once sat the Idisi, they sat here, then thereSome fastened bonds, some impeded an armySome unraveled fettersEscape the bonds, flee the enemy!" If you look at a live performance of Traust, this is highlighted by the binding of a young women by Kai and the release of her binds by Maria later on I find it mesmerizing and I know it back to front. It's a great breathing exercise, to sing it, too. There is no pause in the singing, it's like an eb and flow that gently rolls over you. The Idisi are more or less supernatural female figures that can be called upon, to free or sabotage an enemy (army). If you look at some of the words, you can see that this old Germanic tongue shares a common ancestral root with English and my own native tongue. The next part is from Grógaldr which is a lot more intricate in how it connects to lore and stories from all parts of the Edda, but I too find it to be a healing or a cleansing spell: "Þann gel ek þér fyrstan,þann kveða fjölnýtan, þann gól Rindi Rani,at þú of öxl skjótir, því er þér atalt þykkir;sjalfr leið þú sjalfan þik. Þann gel ek þér annan, ef þú árna skaltviljalauss á vegum, Urðar lokurhaldi þér öllum megum, er þú á sinnum sér. Þann gel ek þér inn þriðja, ef þér þjóðáarfalla at fjörlotum, Horn ok Ruðrsnúisk til heljar meðan, en þverri æ fyr þér. Þann gel ek þér inn fjórða, ef þik fjándr standagörvir á galgvegi, hugr þeim hverfitil handa þér, ok snúisk þeim til sátta sefi. Þann gel ek þér inn fimmta, ef þér fjöturr verðrborinn at boglimum, leysigaldr læt ekþér fyr legg of kveðinn, ok stökkr þá láss af limum,en af fótum fjöturr." - "Then first I will chant thee | the charm oft-tried,That Rani taught to Rind;From the shoulder whate'er | mislikes thee shake,For helper thyself shalt thou have. Then next I will chant thee, | if needs thou must travel,And wander a purposeless way:The bolts of Urth | shall on every sideBe thy guards on the road thou goest. Then third I will chant thee, | if threatening streamsThe danger of death shall bring:Yet to Hel shall turn | both Horn and Ruth,And before thee the waters shall fail. Then fourth I will chant thee, | if come thy foesOn the gallows-way against thee:Into thine hands | shall their hearts be given,And peace shall the warriors wish. Then fifth I will chant thee, | if fetters perchanceShall bind thy bending limbs:O'er thy thighs do I chant | a loosening-charm,And the lock is burst from the limbs,And the fetters fall from the feet." Heilung interjects each stanza with a different bit of the Edda: "Fjón þvæ ég af mér fjanda minna rán og reiði ríkra" - "I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men." The genius in the way Heilung composed these lyrics and implemented them in a musical style that entirely befits the old Germanic/Norse age, is that each stanza is a blessing issued by Maria, and the men affirm this blessing by saying - "I have received this blessing and I wash away the mortal sins of men". It is a typical way of how Pagan blessings or incantations work: they are issued by a Völva/healer/seer and the person receiving the blessing, participates in the spell. It is carefully constructed and put together, in a way that our ancestors lived in their time, to the point it becomes its own being. It's good to know that these three different parts of lore are invoked from a very large timespan, probably predating the viking age, far into the Icelandic staves and runes. Another interesting tidbit is that the Merseburg charms (see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseburg_charms) also return in Hamrer Hippyer, which denotes Odin's healing spell. The Futha album version is sublime. The live version is currently accompanied by even more, very talented (and beautiful) female vocals, which makes it all the more impressive. All the soot, the dirt, the pain, the filth is resonated off of your being. The massive drums wallop your gut as your eardrums vibrate at a holy frequency. Truly a healing experience.
Man, I knew this was deep and steeped in lore but this is another level for sure. Thanks for the insight and taking the time to write this all out. Really appreciate it ✌️
you're using sennheiser, one of the best choices you can ever do. or AKG is also good. This song connects you to the something called soul, to something we can never completely understand. it brings you to a horizon you first cant describe it what you feel. But you try to reach it.
@@neighborsue eivør pálsdóttir is a singer and songwriter from the faroe islands. she is a classically trained sopran and owns a masters degree in traditional nordic vocal techniques. her vocal skills are unbelievable, check out for example falling free live at the old theater in tórshavn. she also made music for the TV series the last kingdom or the computer game god of war.
@@soleywolfgangsdottir ohh very good, thank you for pointing us in her direction the Nordic based traditional music is so powerful, it tugs at you on a soul level
@@neighborsue exactly! you can literally pick anything by her, and she will blow your mind. the last kingdom main theme, í tokuni music video, gloomy sunday, wake me up live at rtt, bridges live at studio bloch, slør london solo sessions, .... the list is endless!