Faroese kvæði
The Faroe Islands shelter a rich heritage of oral traditions.
Arguably the most important part of this oral tradition consists of kvæði. These are usually long ballads
based on old legends, sagas, and in some cases biblical stories. They were written down from oral sources since the 18th century, starting with
the pioneer work by the faroese scholar J.C.Svabo (1746-1824). An earlier collection sent to danish scholar Ole Worm in 1639 is known to have existed, but is (apart from some tiny fragments) now lost.
New kvæði in the old style continue to be composed in the Faroes.
I am working on the publication of some of the kvæði texts on the web.
Texts already available :
Sjúrðarkvæði(text according to the Sandoyarbók)
Fuglakvæði by Nólsoyar Pál.
Fruntatáttur by Nólsoyar Pál.
Fuglakvæði eldra
Aligast ríma A.
Aligast ríma B (Gortru ríma).
Sankta Gjørtrúgv (CCF 131 A). (includes dutch translation).
Sankta Jákup (CCF 140).
Sankta Niklas (CCF 152) (includes english translation).
Rudisar vísa (CCF 167).
For further texts of kvæði see my bibliography.