An English translation of Danish folklorist Svend Nielsen’s study on variations in rímur performance has now been published. Released in Icelandic in 2022, The Rímur Poetry of Ten Kvæðamenn: Research on Variations is now available as an e-book, featuring audio examples of the poetry. The book recounts the collection and study of rímur performance by ten kvæðamenn between 1964 and 1971. The inspiration for the study came from remarks made by Reverend Bjarni Þorsteinsson in the introduction to the rímur melodies included in his book Íslenzk þjóðlög (Icelandic Folk Songs), published between 1906 and 1909. There, he noted that some rímur melodies are improvised on the spot, with the performer creating the melody as they recite the verse, rather than having a specific tune in mind beforehand. The study aimed to discover whether such performers could still be found, and the search proved successful. The book includes an introduction defining rímur, meter, poetic language, and rímur melodies, with references for further reading. It also situates Svend Nielsen’s work within the broader context of Scandinavian research on oral poetry traditions. Philip Roughton translated the text.

The book is available through open access and can be downloaded electronically.