The Poetic Edda
Performed by
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson

Recorded by Júlíus Agnarsson
These recordings licensed from Geisli Ltd.,

Ljósmyndir: Davíð Þorsteinsson.
Special thanks to :Þorsteinn Guðjónsson, Árni Matthíasson.

A Tibeto-Icelandic Reflection

I have never fallen in love with somewhere so extremely as I did with Iceland when I first went there five years ago. Shot through with beauty, savagery, silence, nature ecstatic - it still remains incomprehensible to me in its luminosity. Listening to Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson's hypnotic, waking-dream chant arises the same emotions in me - spaces and timelessness.
I have many people to thank: firstly of course, my dear friends Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Gunna Sigga, who invited me to Iceland in the first place; my love to you! Ási Jónsson, who made this release possible; and all the friends I've made in my stays in Reykjavík: Rúna, Anna, Sjón, Ragna, Húbbi, Björk, Einar Örn, Jónas, Gummi, Jóhi, Dúsa, Brynja, Eysteinn, Hulda, Gulli, Godkrist.
My thanks and respect, too, to Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson to agreeing so readily to this release. For those interested in the Northern traditions and the runes, I recommend 'Leaves of Yggdrasil' by Freya Aswynn, published by Llewellyn. Freya also gives lectures on and instructions in the Northern mysteries.
And, finally, love to all those who are linked with all I do: Steve Stapleton, Dido, Ruby, Lilith, Nyida, Douglas P., Tony Wakeford, John Balance, Rose McDowall, Yongsov, Yuko, Ayame, Konori, James Mannox, Joolie Wood, Alan, Gibby, Alison.
Obeisance to the Guru: Khordong Gterchen 'Chimed Rig'dzin Lama, Rinpoche. Love and respect to James Low. May all achieve happiness. May ignorance and confusion be dispersed. May the Dharma spread.
'Chimed Sangsrgyas/David M. Tibet
London, October 1990

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, the official head of the revived heathen sect of Ásatrú (religion of the ancient gods - the æsir), was born in 1924 in Borgarfjördur in West Iceland where he has lived all his life. Since 1944 he has been a sheep farmer, pursuing his literary interests on the side. His published works include a book of rimur (1945), a textbook on the verse forms of rimur (1953), two volumes of his own verse (1957 and 1976), and several anthologies which he has edited. Since the foundation of the Ásatrú Sect in 1972, he has been its official leader and spokesman. Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson is a well known rimur singer or kvædamadur in Iceland. There are many such singers in each district, while others travelled around to entertain the public.
The Poetic Edda is often considered the most interesting cultural contribution of the Nordic nations.
The poems were originally recited from memory before an audience, but not written down until later. As written scripts from the poems were saved from falling into oblivion and made more accessible to a thorough study. The original method of transmitting them to an audience is however still valuable.

The wisdom of these poems has not been rendered obsolete by the centuries that have passed, experience has proved its importance. The poems still warn against betrayal and cowardice, brutality and restlessness. The need to consult them is not any less now than before.

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson

The Poetic Edda
Performed by
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson

Recorded by Júlíus Agnarsson
These recordings licensed from Geisli Ltd.,

Ljósmyndir: Davíð Þorsteinsson.
Special thanks to :Þorsteinn Guðjónsson, Árni Matthíasson.

A Tibeto-Icelandic Reflection

I have never fallen in love with somewhere so extremely as I did with Iceland when I first went there five years ago. Shot through with beauty, savagery, silence, nature ecstatic - it still remains incomprehensible to me in its luminosity. Listening to Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson's hypnotic, waking-dream chant arises the same emotions in me - spaces and timelessness.
I have many people to thank: firstly of course, my dear friends Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Gunna Sigga, who invited me to Iceland in the first place; my love to you! Ási Jónsson, who made this release possible; and all the friends I've made in my stays in Reykjavík: Rúna, Anna, Sjón, Ragna, Húbbi, Björk, Einar Örn, Jónas, Gummi, Jóhi, Dúsa, Brynja, Eysteinn, Hulda, Gulli, Godkrist.
My thanks and respect, too, to Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson to agreeing so readily to this release. For those interested in the Northern traditions and the runes, I recommend 'Leaves of Yggdrasil' by Freya Aswynn, published by Llewellyn. Freya also gives lectures on and instructions in the Northern mysteries.
And, finally, love to all those who are linked with all I do: Steve Stapleton, Dido, Ruby, Lilith, Nyida, Douglas P., Tony Wakeford, John Balance, Rose McDowall, Yongsov, Yuko, Ayame, Konori, James Mannox, Joolie Wood, Alan, Gibby, Alison.
Obeisance to the Guru: Khordong Gterchen 'Chimed Rig'dzin Lama, Rinpoche. Love and respect to James Low. May all achieve happiness. May ignorance and confusion be dispersed. May the Dharma spread.
'Chimed Sangsrgyas/David M. Tibet
London, October 1990

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, the official head of the revived heathen sect of Ásatrú (religion of the ancient gods - the æsir), was born in 1924 in Borgarfjördur in West Iceland where he has lived all his life. Since 1944 he has been a sheep farmer, pursuing his literary interests on the side. His published works include a book of rimur (1945), a textbook on the verse forms of rimur (1953), two volumes of his own verse (1957 and 1976), and several anthologies which he has edited. Since the foundation of the Ásatrú Sect in 1972, he has been its official leader and spokesman. Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson is a well known rimur singer or kvædamadur in Iceland. There are many such singers in each district, while others travelled around to entertain the public.
The Poetic Edda is often considered the most interesting cultural contribution of the Nordic nations.
The poems were originally recited from memory before an audience, but not written down until later. As written scripts from the poems were saved from falling into oblivion and made more accessible to a thorough study. The original method of transmitting them to an audience is however still valuable.

The wisdom of these poems has not been rendered obsolete by the centuries that have passed, experience has proved its importance. The poems still warn against betrayal and cowardice, brutality and restlessness. The need to consult them is not any less now than before.

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson