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Viking Saga Songs: 7. Birds of the North

The song is a celebration of Scandanavian birds. Birds also feature in the story: Loki flies to Jotunheim as a falcon to rescue Iduna; then he transforms her into a sparrow for the journey back...but Thiassi is after them!

The saga

Loki! You dirty double-crosser!
Thiassi

Parts 3 and 4 of the story begin with the consequences of Loki's actions becoming apparent - without Iduna and her apples the gods are growing old and frail. Heimdall reveals that he saw Loki speaking with Thiassi in Iduna's garden and Odin orders Loki to find a solution to their predicament - he, after all, is the cause of it. Loki transforms into a falcon and flies to Thiassi's castle in Jotunheim, where he turns Iduna into a sparrow and the two of them set off for Asgard. But Thiassi has also transformed into the great eagle once more and he's after them. Back at Asgard Odin orders Heimdall to make a bonfire. Loki and Iduna tumble through the smoke and then Heimdall fans the flames...

In the saga...

NameReminder
LokiViking god of fire
OdinChief of all the Viking gods - he makes Asgard, Midgard and Jotunheim
IdunaKeeper of the magic apples that are the source of the gods' everlasting youth...and only Iduna can give the apples
ThiassiKing of the Giants of Jotunheim - able to transform into a huge eagle
HeimdallGuardian of the rainbow bridge - he and Loki don't get on
AsgardShining city of the gods
Iduna's orchardFull of apple trees that are able to speak...and warn Iduna against Loki's plans!
JotunheimFrozen home of the giants

In the song tutorial

TimingContent
00 00Listening to the chorus of the song, beginning: 'Birds of the North...' Joining in with the words 'Windward drifting...'
02 00Learing about the importance of birds to the Vikings and listening to a sequence of bird calls.
04 16Putting the whole of the chorus together, noting that the phrase 'Birds of the North...' comes four times.
05 34Learning Verse 1, beginning: 'Sparrow and Falcon...' Noting that each verse has just five notes, that rise and fall.
08 22Learning Verse 2, beginning: Raven and Eagle...' Noting that the last word of the verse should be sustained.
10 10Singing the chorus, then going straight on to sing Verse 3, beginning: 'Seagull and Curlew...' and ending with seawash sounds.
11 20Learing the coda, repeating the words 'Windward drifting' three times.

Story questions

Why are the gods growing old and frail?

The gods rely on Iduna's magic apples for everlasting youth. Now that Iduna is gone they are all growing old - including Loki

How does Odin know of Loki's involvement in the plot?

Heimdall has seen Loki in Iduna's garden with Thiassi and tells him

What does Loki transform into for the journey to Jotunheim?

A bird - a falcon

What does Odin tell Heimdall to do as the birds approach Asgard?

Gather together sticks and branches and make a bonfire

At the very end does Iduna give Loki one of her magic apples?

It's up to you to decide! Talk about Loki and then think about what Iduna should do...

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