Volven

Hagalaz Runedance

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: December 5, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Well Of Urd
• ASIN: B00004U0BB
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #595,544 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Hagalaz’ Runedance is the creation of Andrea Nebel Haugen. Through her music, lyrics and writings, she explores the spirituality of ancient Northern Europe, searching for the forgotten wisdom and values of her Pagan ancestors.

Hagalaz' Runedance is particularly focused on the feminine mysteries of the North, and the strong position women held in Pagan cultures. Andrea herself is working with the magic of her foremothers, and she describes Hagalaz as the rune to unlock the doors to the hidden self. Hagalaz is representing the mysterious side of femininity. Thus, to Andrea, Hagalaz' Runedance symbolises the dance in-between the worlds.

In 1996, Hagalaz’ Runedance released the single “When The Trees Were Silenced”, followed by 1998’s highly acclaimed full-length album “The Winds That Sang Of Midgard’s Fate”. In the following year, Andrea released a mini CD entitled “Urd - That Which Was”. Spring 2000 marked the release of the album “Volven”. This latest piece is Andrea’s best musical achievement so far. More powerful, more diverse and more Pagan, Volven came to collect quite outstanding critics in the major Alternative music magazines.

The music has been described as “Ambient Folk” or “Pagan Folk”, yet Hagalaz' Runedance definitely has its individual style. Using old Nordic and Celtic Folk instruments, combined with ritualistic drumming and synth-arrangements, Hagalaz' Runedance invokes a primal, earthly and visual mood. Andrea works together with a variety of musicians from Alternative, Medieval and Folk music scenes, experimenting with synth-sounds, natural instruments and her voice. The lyrics call to the spirits of nature and Andrea expresses her longings, passions and views upon the world. Some songs are magical experiences, describing visions, dreams and Seidr trances (Northern shamanism).

Andrea (a German, who lived in England before moving to the land of the Vikings in 1994) has already made a name for herself in 1994, with the obscure musical project Aghast. Her ideas expressed in interviews became quite respected in the alternative music scene, and a year later, she wrote two booklets under the name Horde Of Hagalaz, with articles concerning Northern Mythology, the art of magic and the Pagans’ understanding for life’s mysteries. Many of her letters to the media have also been printed in the biggest Norwegian tabloid papers and magazines. In 2000, Andrea’s book “The Ancient Fires Of Midgard” was published, and it discusses topics such as Northern mythology and the Pagan way of life, Nature’s mysteries, ancient traditions, the magic of the wise women, natural childbirth, and the animal spirit.

Albeit dedicated to the Northern traditions, Hagalaz’ Runedance encourages the revival of the ancient wisdom and respect for Mother Nature in general, and hopes to inspire seek their roots and rekindle the ways of their own Pagan ancestors.

Besides Hagalaz’ Runedance, Andrea Nebel Haugen is a member of Norway’s registered Asatru community Bifrost. She holds Seidr magic ceremonies/workshops, performs with a Viking show-fight group (to name but a few of her Pagan activities). She also supports the WWF (the wildlife foundation), has a great passion for horses and dogs... but above all she is devoted to her little girl.

At the moment Andrea is preparing a new album and working on a new book that is inspired by her dreams and visions...

The Runedance goes on...

Product Description
UK reissue of 2000 album includes three bonus tracks, 'Wake Skadi', 'Urd, That Which Flies', & 'The Falcon Flies' (Ulver Juxtaposition Remix), taken from the 'Urd - That Which Was' EP. For fans of Enya, Clannad, & Dead Can Dance. Karmageddon Media. 2004. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scandinavian Pagan Folk Music, September 23, 2004

By	Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Volven (Audio CD)

As are many, I am a fan of the beautiful vocals and ethereal ethnic melodies of Enya and the equally captivating vocals and medieval celtic and world folk sounds of Loreena McKinnett. They are like bookends on a shelf, holding up their end of this amazing repertoire of heavenly to historic music.

There is room on this shelf for a fairly recent phenomenon from Scandinavia (Norway). This Phenomenon is called Hagalaz Runedance a band that evokes a feeling of a time long ago, a primitive time in the pagan lands of Germania and the Norsemen.

The founder and leader of Hagalaz Runedance is the witch, Andrea Nebel Haugen. Calling them a band may be a stretch, rather Hagalaz is more of a collaboration of Andrea and her selected guest musicians. The music itself is pretty much indescribable, except in general terms. Andrea herself, performs all vocals and some of the percussion with a cadre of guest medieval instrumentalists along to help out. Hagalaz Runedance play a blend of Northern European and Norse folk music and medieval melodies favored with an occasional Celtic flavor. Primitive tribal drum beats provide an undercurrent for most melodies, which are played by traditional instruments from lyres , to drehleiers , mandolins , tin whistles , and Nordic bag pipes and several others I've never heard of, providing an authentic, soothing Pagan atmosphere of a time long ago lost. Some guitars are used , mainly acoustic, except for in the remix of "On Wings Of Rapture" which features some electric guitars and looped vocal effects. Also "Dreaming Wild White Horses" features an ethereal electronica background and "Solstice Past" has a synth in part, a most interesting effect, soft pagan music backed by modern electronic instruments

Andrea's clear, strong, deep voice penetrates you. She also provides backing harmonies and wails that provide aural sensations associated to the distant past. Lyrically, Volven also concentrates on pagan themes especially relating to feminine endeavors of ancient times . Andrea herself is a self proclaimed witch and her belief and passion flows through into her music.

My nomination for best tracks on Volven is fourfold, one & two, both versions of the catchy "On Wings Of Rapture", perfectly combining medieval instrumentation and folk melodies into a convincing and infectious song and third, Seeker Divine with heavy drums throughout and an delightful melody, this is the closest song to Loreena McKinnett's style, fourth is The Dawning more drums which are a strong element of many of Volven's songs plus multiple voices of Andrea. For me, this is the song that is most reminiscent of Enya . The rest of the album is very good as well and a pleasure to listen to.

CONCLUSION

I would say that Hagalaz Runedance would fall within the New Age genre, so if that's your preference, check them out.

Volven and the other Runedance music I have heard is pleasant enough and fun to listen to but it isn't the kind of music where one or several of the songs grab you and won't let go, and you gotta hear them over and over. Then again, that's typical of my experience with the New Age genre, it's just not that emotional. No this music is more sedate and easy going, though I do think with the strong beats and drums, it would be good to exercise by, if I was so inclined.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for the pagan heart, March 11, 2002

By	Dustin Messer (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Volven (Audio CD)

If you liked "The Winds that Sang at Midgard's Fate" you will definitely like "Volven". Andrea Nebel Haugen is a true pagan at heart, and doesn't mind expressing what she feels. I would classify "Volven" as Pagan Folk Ambient music and is definitely original. There are more folk intruments in the album, however, it is more ambient than "Midagard's Fate."

If you like her music you will definitely like her book "The Ancient Fires of Midgard." In her book she discusses, Norse Myths and Ledgends, celebrating seasons and personal events, herbs, gods/goddesses, Seidr (Norse Shamanism), the self, spirit animals, natural childbirth, and even cloths worn by the Germanic Pagans. She also doesn't hesitate to express her feelings toward Christianity and other dogmatic religions(Islam, Judism).

Andrea Nebel Haugen has been a great inpriration for me. Through her writings and her music she has helped spark the fire in my pagan heart.

5.0 out of 5 stars Music for the pagan heart, March 11, 2002

By	Dustin Messer (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Volven (Audio CD)

If you liked "The Winds that Sang at Midgard's Fate" you will definitely like "Volven". Andrea Nebel Haugen is a true pagan at heart, and doesn't mind expressing what she feels. I would classify "Volven" as Pagan Folk Ambient music and is definitely origonal. There are more folk intruments in the album, however, it is more ambient than "Midagard's Fate."

If you like her music you will definitely like her book "The Ancient Fires of Midgard." In her book she discusses, Norse Myths and Ledgends, celebrating seasons and personal events, herbs, gods/goddesses, Seidr (Norse Shamanism), the self, spirit animals, natural childbirth, and even cloths worn by the Germanic Pagans. She also doesn't hesitate to express her feelings toward Christianity and other dogmatic religions(Islam, Judism).

Andrea Nebel Haugen has been a great inpriration for me. Through her writings and her music she has helped spark the fire in my pagan heart.