LL-L "Literature" 2009.04.08 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 08 April 2009 - Volume 05
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Literature

Upon "popular" demand, and now that, happily, the lovely Shetland Islands
are being mentioned again, I am reposting a link to a terrific video clip of
the Shetland Norn ballad *Hildinakvadet* from Foula, 1774:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TXrn0xoOcE

The ballad is sung, and the Norn text is shown with English translations.

Norn is a West Scandinavian language used on the Shetland and Orkney
Islandsuntil the mid-19
th century. The (Scots?) varieties used on these islands now have various
Norn substrata.

I am assuming that these Scandinavian varieties belong to the West
Scandinavian group to which also the indigenous varieties of Norway and
Jamtland (now Sweden) belong (though not the Norwegian majority language *
Bokmål*, which is Dano-Norwegian, thus essentially East Scandinavian, though
influenced by West Scandinavian as a result of Norwegianization).

Apparently, the text of the ballad specifically represents the Norn variety
of Foula (< Fugleøy "Bird Island"), not Orkney, Caithness or general
Shetland Norn. This specific variety used to be referred to as *Da Dansk*,
literally "The Danish". This was most likely because Norway was then a part
of Denmark, and Old Norse was often referred to as *d**Ç«**nsk tunga*, *dansk
tunga* ("Danish tongue").

*Kvad* means 'poem' or 'ballad', *kvadet* 'the poem/ballad'. *Hildi* is a
woman's name, specifically the name of a valkyrie (Old English *wælcyrge* or
*wælcyrie*, Norse *valkyrja*, a female spirit that chooses those warriors
that die in battle). So, *Hildinakvadet* means something like "The Hildi
Ballad" or "The Ballad of Hildi".

In 1774, this ballad was recited by Foula resident William Henry for the
Scottish researcher George Low. Low wrote it down under the title "The Earl
of Orkney and the King of Norway's Daughter: a ballad". It was first
published in England and Norway in the early part of the 19th century.

Along with an introduction and a list of Norn words, you can find the text
as spelled by Low, and also an English translation, here:

http://www.foulaheritage.org.uk/Foula%201774%20%20Norn.htm

Enjoy!

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

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From: Hannelore Hinz  <HanneHinz at t-online.de>

Subject: LL-L "Holidays" 2009.04.07 (05) [E]



Bester Ron,



ich möchte dir für die Ostergrüße herzlich danken und auch dir mit diesem
taufrischen Sonett eine Freude bereiten.



*         Osterwasser*

           (Ein alter Brauch aus

            Mecklenburg, Germany)



Am Ostermorgen da sind sie früh munter,

was haben sie vor, wonach ruft der Tag.

Sie gehen schweigend ans Ufer hinunter

mit Töpfen, Kannen vorbei am Hag.



Nun schöpfen sie rückwärts klar und so rein

stroman fließend Heilkraft, so mein Erwähnen,

und sie preisen zugleich mit leisem Sehnen

das Osterwasser, als wäre es Wein.



Sie schleppen heimwärts die Kannen und Töpfe,

hoch schlagen Herzen wie die Fontänen.

Im Winde da wehen Locken und Zöpfe.



Zuhause lacht Freude, glänzen auch Tränen.

Ja, reines Glück schenkt Natur dem Geschöpfe,

die Hoffnung neu blüht, vorbei nun das Sehnen.





Dank für LL-L-Arbeit und auch dir besinniche Feiertage!



Hanne

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