The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1977, Page 19

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
17
THE SAGA SINGERS
by Rae Biggs
Dressed in authentic Icelandic cos-
tumes, presenting ancient Icelandic
songs and hymns, Edmonton’s delight-
ful Saga Singers have a busy schedule
ahead.
They trace their origin to a Chirstmas
concert 1964 when a group of Icelanders
impressed the audience with an improm-
ptu sing-song of ancient carols.
Encouraged by the applause, they
then began to gather at one another’s
homes for weekly song sessions, thus
gaining competence to take part in the
1964 “Scandapades,” an annual review
put on by the Scandinavian Centre.
Further encouraged by the Icelandic
Society and its president at the time,
A1 Arnason, (one of the more enthusi-
astic tenors from the chorus), a commit-
tee was formed to find a suitable name
for the group.
This led to the organization in spring,
1968 of the official Saga Singers, with
Ninna Campbell as president and Della
Roland, well-known Edmonton musi-
cian, as choir director and accompanist.
Now over 20 strong they sometimes
travel abroad, chartering a bus to take
them, for instance, to the Icelandic
festivals at Gimli, Manitoba and Mark-
erville, Alberta. “We sing all the way,”
says Mrs. Campbell. “One night going
to Winnipeg we were still singing in the
bus at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
Their unique repertoire consists of
such selections as the ancient legend
Olafur, the story of a rider in the moun-
tains who comes upon evil little elves and
is tempted by them to do wrong. No one
knows the origin of Olafur, a song
passed from minstrel to minstrel down
through the ages and believed to be at
least 1,000 years old.
Another of their songs, Baen is a
moving prayer for peace, set to the stir-
ring music of the andante from Orpheus
by C. W. Van Gluck. Other songs re-
veal political satire and the sharp,
subtle wit so typical of the Icelandic
people.
On the Saga Singer’s itinerary this
year, a concert at the Icelandic Cen-
tennial Festival at Gimli, Manitoba in
August, another at Markerville, Al-
berta in June, appearances with various
ethnic groups at the Jubilee Auditori-
um, Edmonton, frequent presentations
at the Scandinavian Centre, a Christmas
program at the Provincial Museum, at
the Unitarian Church, the Good Sam-
aritan Home and numerous other nur-
sing homes, not to mention the weekly
practice sessions at private homes . . .
happy song-filled socials, which help to
hold together this unusual group of
amateur musicians.
—Courtesy of Heritage (Alberta)
(July-August, 1975