1 research outputs found
PATHS OF FRICTION: \u3ci\u3eKVĂĂAMANNAFĂLAGIĂ\u3c/i\u3e, GEOGRAPHY AND IDENTITY IN 21ST-CENTURY ICELAND
Originating in the 14th century, rĂmur continues to remain a significant tradition in Iceland. RĂmur melodies, together with the texts of Icelandic Edda and Saga poetry, were the main form of household entertainment in Iceland for almost six centuries until modern, global technologies cultivated new interests. In the early 20th century, rĂmur enthusiasts gathered together to form the IĂ°unn Society of Intoners and Versifiers in ReykjavĂk, to preserve the singing traditions of their ancestors. Since then, numerous other societies have organized, many within the past decade. In this way, intoning societies have become a medium through which a national Icelandic identity is formed. At the same time, Iceland has witnessed a boom of tourism. I argue this contemporary practice of rĂmur reflects a nationalistic sensibility within intoning societies, in reaction to tourism and other globalized influences.
Drawing from Tim Ingoldâs (2011) concern for sound as lived experience and Anna Tsingâs (2005) analysis of friction in globalized space, I examine how intoning societies sonically represent the lived Icelandic experiences among these communities in the face of increased tourism, conflicts, and frictions between local and global perceptions of Icelandic identity. Additionally, I draw upon the work of ecomusicologists Aaron Allen and Kevin Dawe to consider the sonic impact of ecotourism in Iceland. For this study, I have conducted ethnographic research of these societies in Iceland. The rise of ecotourism in Iceland corresponds to the increased calls for preservation of rĂmur melodies, intoning practices, and traditional Icelandic music, as marks of local Icelandic identity