The Music of History Raids with Fjorn

Welcome, friend!

I just finished pre-making some rye pie dough for a quiche I plan to make for dinner later this week, so I decided to sit by the hearth and write out this post. Thank you for joining me!

As I prepare my (third) return to history podcasting, I’ve been spending a bit more time thinking about the ‘soundscape’ and editing I do. After all, this time I’m coming to podcasting without the pressures I’ve placed on myself in the past (i.e., no set schedule, no set order of topics to cover, no financial obligations, etc.). I’ll just be going with the flow this time. And on that note…

The music of History Raids with Fjorn will be returning to its roots not only by starting with the same episode as the Fjorn’s Hall Podcast from 2018, but also by revitalizing the original theme I composed for that show. Yes, my very own composition! Back then, the theme was a single harp playing on the low-octave strings with the sound of a fire and drum in the background. Behold!

Not bad, right? A bit dark and very ‘Viking,’ I suppose. If you know me, though, you’ll know that I also don’t really vibe with the whole ‘stereotypical’ Viking thing. I much prefer the silly squabbling of Icelandic farmers over the malicious marauding of warrior-kind. That said, it wasn’t long before I tweaked the theme and, eventually, replaced it entirely with the more professional music by Kevin MacLeod.

To make a long saga a þáttr (aka short), I’ve ‘remastered’ that old theme to use in my new podcast moving forward. Why? Because while other folk make music far more professional than my own, there’s a certain charm in offering a ‘handmade’ tune from someone proclaiming to be a skáld, no?

This time, I don’t want a dark, drumming harp being played by a fire. Instead, I’ve raised the tune an octave, removed the percussion, and added the soft sounds of an ocean in the background. Here’s what I picture:

A skáld sits beside the fjord with a harp in their lap. The sun is low, hiding behind the mountains surrounding them and casting the land in a rich, blue shadow. Winter Nights has just passed, meaning winter is young. A crisp cold fills the air as they begin to play their tune. Rán’s waves lap upon the shore, swaying to their song as wanderers come from far and near to hear their tale.

I don’t know, friend. I quite like that picture. Even if my skill is still far below professional composers, there’s a charm in that tune that I can’t seem to escape. I’m drawn in, and so I’m planning to use it even if it makes my podcast sound a bit amateur. I hope you don’t mind!

I’ll be using variations of that theme for the interludes, outro, and as a background loop here and there. Take a listen:

So yeah! That’s what I’ll be working with. Again, I hope you can find enjoyment in that theme. For some reason, I can’t seem to escape it. Can music haunt a man? Indeed, I think it can be so.

Now, as a BONUS for those who’ve wandered this far…I’ll also share how this very theme snuck its way into the music I’ve written (as Fëolnir) for my fantasy stories! Are you able to pick it out? Listen closely: