Árstíðir (English: Seasons) is an Icelandic indie-folk band with classical, progressive rock and minimalist elements. This tune is titled “Ljóð í sand” (Poetry In The Sand). Árstíðir became known to a wider internet audience in 2013 when a Youtube video went viral (3,000,000+ hits) showed them performing impromptu, Heyr himna smiður (“Hear, Smith of heavens”, a 13th century Icelandic hymn) at a train station in Germany. The video was shot by their PR manager after they had played a concert the venue inside the train station. The a capella was noted for improvising with the vaulted acoustics of the train station to effect the echo chambers of a monastic chapel.
Find the Icelandic Hymn that went viral on Youtube here.
Find their album on iTunes here: Svefns Og Voku Skil (Sleep & Waking Returns)
they are amazing, I loved so much, Thank you dear David, I am listening now 🙂 Love, nia
Thanks Nia. Loved them too. And I found this video to be equally moving:
I feel like I’ve been to church already this morning after both your posts. Lovely.
Yes, both have that spiritual feeling…
Hauntingly lovely…
It is Mimi…
Beautiful. 🙂
It is B* thanks.
Thanks for adding to the echoes, so this reached me this morning. Loved it.
Thanks Ann. The “echoes (nicely stated) reached me similarly…
This is probably my favorite kind of music. I love the groups Varttina and Gjallarhorn, both Finnish. I’ll be looking for these guys on Amazon. Thanks, David.
Here’s Varttina:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlSPnk7j8DM
And here’s Gjallarhorn:
Sandy, I’ve never heard of these bands. Thanks so much for pointing me to them.
what a wonderful way to begin a sunday. thank you for this find, dk.
I agree Beth, thank you
David, they’re absolutely marvellous. Very moving. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was reading a post this week where the Greek word “Pothos” was described as that feeling of longing in the soul and not being sure what the longing is for. Their music does precisely that to me. Thank you.
Hi Don. That’s it – soul and longing. You’ve beautifully captured it in 2 words. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful listening on a Sunday morning! To my amazement I could still understand most of the Icelandic and Finnish (Sandy Sue’s favs) song texts.
You speak Icelandic and Finnish? Wow!
I used to speak all Nordic languages, but that was a long time ago…
Impressive!
On Sun, Jun 8, 2014 at 8:08 PM, Live & Learn wrote:
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Lots of talent and good music.
Yes to both Anneli