My name is Sheila Louise Wright, but some know me as Sigridis "GALA" Eriksdottir or Sionann in Ui Fhlaithbheartaig depending on when/where we've met.

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I've been involved in music (and art & acting) for as long as I can remember, mostly as a vocalist concentrated on Opera, Baroque and Classical music. Then several years ago, while attempting to find music more in keeping with my activities in several Norse re-creation groups, I found a love for Scandinavian folk music. I was frustrated though by a colossal lack of information and an even greater lack of actual music. It would seem that "Vikings" were great at writing down their poetry, mythology and stories, but LOUSY at writing down their music. From the sagas (admittedly written well after the Viking Age) we know they HAD music, that they sang, they danced, they played instruments, but not WHAT they sang or played. Thus began my research.

 

Knowing there is little (read: no) information before about 1200, I began by researching Scandinavian Balladry of the 13th-14th Centuries, the vast majority of which is lyrics only (the Danish ballad 'Drømte Mig en Drøm' being a rare exception). Unfortunatley NONE can be conclusively proven to be from the "Viking Age", but many may plausibly be from the period (my research continues). I look at the lyrics, language and story tropes, and compare those to other documents of the era. I also look at the early music and poetry etc of other regions nearby, such as England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Russia etc for clues to what music in Scandinavia may have sounded like. Still wanting to reach further back, I decided to also look at rural folk music such as "Kulning" and Sami "Joik" (which have close relations to Swiss "yodel"), both of which have a long history, and are still practiced in various regions of Scandinavia today. If you are interested in reading some of my research, please feel free to email me and I'll be happy to share.

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Because most of my sources at written in languages other than English, I have had to passably learn them in order to do the research and perform the songs. Most of my repertoire is in Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Danish, Finnish, Russian, Gaelic, Latin... and the occasional song in English such as the every popular, rousing anthem "Savage Daughter" by Karen Kahan, and some Irish Celtic music. (see the MUSIC page for samples)

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VOICE is my first instrument and I accompany myself on a 6 String Anglo-Saxon Lyre, a 7 String Norwegian Kravik Lyre and occasionally an Irish Folk Harp. I also play bass guitar, piano, recorders, Swedish Bagpipes, pennywhistle, percussion, Rebec, Hornpipe...