Epitaph - Medieval Iceland / Gudjonsson

Sverrir Gudjonsson (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Opus 111
• ASIN: B00000IL5C
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music of the Eddas, April 28, 2003

By 

Christopher Forbes "weirdears" (Brooklyn,, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Epitaph - Medieval Iceland / Gudjonsson (Audio CD)

The country that gave birth to the medieval saga is too little known culturally around the world. But it stores up secret riches. This disc is a marvelous anthology of medieval Icelandic song, exquisitely sung and performed.

Sverrir Gudjonsson is a terrific countertenor, though one who hasn't made the top tier internationally. This project is a labor of love. It begins and ends with a haunting traditional song in an unusual mode and accompanied only by the sounds of the ocean. From this beginning the disc goes through a great variety of medieval Icelandic pieces, from monodic song, to chant, to simple two and three part chanson, to highly rhythmic troubador music and finally to artfully crafted polyphonic motets. This is not music that "all sounds the same" if you have ears at all. The selection probably encompasses at least 400 years of the country's musical history. And Gudjonson's woice is terrific. His countertenor is clear and pure and the notes sure! The accompaniments too are excellent.

This is a wonderful look at the music of the time of the Eddas. I can't recommend it highly enough.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The very best medieval cd!, May 20, 1999

By 

Scott A. Beeson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Epitaph - Medieval Iceland / Gudjonsson (Audio CD)

The different styles of music contained in this cd give an excellent musical picture of Icelandic culture in the medieval period. I love it! The vocals are haunting, and powerful. Awesome.

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible work by Icelandic Countertenor!, March 7, 2002

By 

Taddea (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Epitaph - Medieval Iceland / Gudjonsson (Audio CD)

Sverrir Gudjonsson is an incredible countertenor. This album immediately became one of my favorite albums. I couldn't stop listening to it! His use of instrumentation is exquisite, not too much or too little, but just right. I recommend this work to anyone who loves medieval music.