In Season 1, Ep. 12 of Outlander, Jamie Fraser brings his newly wedded wife Claire to his ancestral estate at Lallybroch in the Scottish Highlands. The couple sits in the Laird’s Bedchamber, Brian Fraser’s inner sanctum, a place that Jamie scarcely could bring himself to tip-toe into. Except to hold his father’s ancient Viking sword. Jamie finds the 10th Century blade with its five-lobed pommel in its traditional hiding place under the Laird’s bed. He tells his bride:
“I’d slip in when he was out in the fields, just to hold it for a few moments and dream of the day it would be mine.”
Viking sword of Jamie Fraser in the series Outlander, based on archeological finds in Hedeby, Danemark and made by Iain Bowden from Armour Class, 2013.
photo courtesy Rama
The Fraser Viking connection is a Diana Gabaldon nod to a very important aspect of the culture and genealogy of Scotland: There is a lot of the Norse in the Scots — particularly (and for obvious reasons) in the Kingdom of the Isles. The Norse-Gaels were a phenomenon of Ireland as well as the western islands and the Highlands of Scotland. We’re not talking merely about raiders ravishing women — we’re talking about Norse settlers from the 8th, 9th and 10th Centuries in the region of the Irish Sea, who married into the local communities, and became Gaelicized to a point that the Norse and the Gael were culturally and genetically intertwined.
Vikings are still running rampant through Scotland as, according to the researchers, 29.2 per cent of descendants in Shetland have the DNA, 25.2 per cent in Orkney and 17.5 per cent in Caithness. This compares with just with 5.6 per cent of men in Yorkshire carrying Norse DNA.
I recently discovered the work of a young man named Jamie Keddie who performs as An Tuagh. His Bandcamp site describes the work Bard & Skald:
The core of bardic tradition in Scotland and its closest neighbours in these Northern lands is pure storytelling. A celebration of life, knowledge, the land and to recount the events that shaped them. A place, time, teaching, tale or man can live forever through story or song. This album strives to carry on that tradition. The passing of souls, ever onwards. Dedicated to the Eternal Loving Memory of Bear ‘Rúnaskjöldur’ McLellan.
I like it a lot.
Keddie describes the journey to the creation of his first album of Norse-Gael “Sounds from the North.”
I lost a very dear and close friend almost a year ago now. The two of us had grand ideas when our heads came together. One of the bigger ideas we had always discussed was researching, exploring and then creating a modern twist on the sounds of Ancient Scotland, the Gaels, the Picts and our Norse neighbours. His passing put me into a lull. I thought all of the creative dreams and ambitions might be lost. But, after some time it sprung me into action on this project – taking the negative energy generated and converting it into creative fire. Keeping the dream of two souls alive.
What started as a few cover songs turned into a soundscape, an adventure and a research trip with more questions raised and doors opened than closed. I realised both of our voices and spirits were in each an every note of the music made. And this debut album is the result of that “fire in the head.”
It’s been a long road getting here. I feel completely connected to and full of energy from the land, stories and people that have surrounded me during and after completing this project. I hope you love it as much as I loved working on it.
Slàinte mhòr
A Norse-Gael collaboration can be found in the OST for the game Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla — Wrath of the Druids. The work features Einar Selvik of Wardruna, and the Scottish singer Julie Fowlis. Her voice is absolutely magical to me…
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I have a feeling that The Northern Thing is going to have a big moment in the popular consciousness, given the blast of the war horn that has rocked the cultural landscape with the release of The Northman.
We here at Frontier Partisans have long sailed The Whale Road, and know the blood-stirring Sounds of the North, a soundtrack that echoes across the seas from the isles to the American backcountry.
Matthew says
Those songs are pretty haunting.
The Northern Thing is surprisingly universal for something linked to a certain area on the globe.
Reese Crawford says
Chilling music. Interestingly enough, my earliest traceable ancestor was a Norse settler in Scotland known as Thor Longus, or Thor the Tall. William Wallace’s mother is one of his decedents if I recall correctly. Perhaps that’s where he got his height from?
JimC says
That’s extraordinary lineage.
Mike says
One of the many things that I credit FP for is a love of Outlander. A friend had suggested reading the books many years ago, but I never got around to it. When I saw the series getting positive reviews here, I jumped in and haven’t looked back. It’s been particularly enjoyable given the Scots heritage in our family. We can trace the family back to the late 1600’s, and to tie Outlander, music, and family history all together, our ancestors were in fact “over the sea to Skye.” I suspect some Norse blood in the veins given what I know of the settlement of those areas, but who knows. I was fortunate enough to walk those lands on a trip a few years back–one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.
Bring on more of The Northern Thing…no complaints here!
JimC says
This makes my day. I have “a fire in the head” to share these things with like-minded folk, and to know that FP helps people find song and story that resonates is gratifying beyond words. Thank you.
lane batot says
Yeah, I was influenced to watch(on used DVD’s!) “Outlander” because of Frontier Partisans, too. And I have gone on to share my DVD’s with others, spreading the interest! It seems to resonate DEEPLY with others, or not at all, has been my experience…..Speaking of Nordic ancestry, my family always knew we had a Swedish ancestor on my paternal side that came over to America as a cook on a ship(great, great grandfather, I believe?), but my more financially stable well-to-do older brother recently paid to have a DNA test done, and was surprised to find A LOT MORE Scandinavian blood in our background than we previously realized! If indeed that DNA test was truly accurate…… But seeing as how my Ma’s side is typical Scots-Irish, it well may be that the “Scottish” ancestors(or the Irish!), had a good bit of that Scandinavian in THEIR background. Those Vikings DID get around!
Lynda A. Sanchez says
This makes my day. I have “a fire in the head” to share these things with like-minded folk, and to know that FP helps people find song and story that resonates is gratifying beyond words. Thank you.
Jim: your statement above about how you wish to share all kinds of adventure with like-minded folks and that these stories and songs resonate with us is so great to see. Your enthusiasm, and wide-ranging interests surely help us all. I often forward FP to amigos and I believe some are now on your list?
Best regards from a very windy NM, but for now no more fires.
Stay safe, Lynda
Beverly+Rampey says
for those enjoying the TV series Outlander and relate to it, you really need to read her books. They are LARGE because she puts in so much detail and personal information that the characters, times, and mores come alive in ways your imagination takes them. I don’t watch the series because so much detail has to be left out that the series seems “unfinished”. Just wait until the series gets to before the Revolution. That detail is awesome.