Umbra - Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir: Blóðhófnir (2021)

"Haraldsdottir’s score, sung entirely in Icelandic, is human in its scope and eternal in its sound; Blóðhófnir conveys an elemental earthiness. It challenges past assumptions about culture and demonstrates that history ought to be interrogated and re-evaluated in light of contemporary realities." -Todd Tarantino, MATA Festival.

Blóðhófnir / Bloodhoof (2016) was written to the award-winning poetic cycle by Icelandic poet Gerður Kristný, with intimate visuals by actor and interdisciplinary artist, Tinna Kristjánsdóttir for an all-female cast; the critically acclaimed UMBRA Ensemble, with lead vocalist Lilja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir and guest performers, who all sing and play period instruments.

The poetic cycle is a reevaluation of an Old Norse mythic poem from the Edda, in which the giantess, Gerður Gymisdóttir, is abducted from her homeland, Jötunheimar, or the Land of Giants, to be forced to marry the god Freyr in the Land of Gods. This contemporary retelling is told by the giantess herself, redefining what was traditionally percieved as a story of “love” into one of abduction and violence.

The music reflects on the historic and the contemporary with vocal harmonies and earthy gut strings, underlining the continuing historical relevance of the story.