A version of the 13th century Icelandic hymn Heyr himna smiður is featured in two episodes of the American TV series Handmaid's Tale. Another song by the Icelandic artist who performs the hymn also appears in the show.
Heyr himna smiður (Hear, Smith of the Heavens) is a beloved hymn in Iceland that is a popular choice in funerals and for choir performances. It is believed to have been penned by the ancient poet Kolbeinn Tumason in the early 13th century. It is traditionally sung to a melody composed by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson.
Contacted by the producers
Local singer Hildur Guðnadóttir recorded a version of the hymn for her record Saman in 2014. According to local news site Mbl.is, the hymn appears in two episodes of Handmaid's Tale. Her song Erupting Light from the same album can also be heard in the series.
Hildur tells Mbl.is that she has gotten a strong reaction from people to the songs who've found it curious to hear the Icelandic language in the show. The producers contacted her publisher to get a permission to use the songs but Hildur says she does not know where they got the idea. She is currently busy composing the soundtrack to the film Soldado, the sequel to the Academy Awards nominated movie Sicario.
The Handmaid's Tale is based on a dystopian novel by the same name by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. It deals with a future totalitarian theocracy where women are subjugated and forced to bear children for the ruling class.
A version of the 13th century Icelandic hymn Heyr himna smiður is featured in two episodes of the American TV series Handmaid's Tale. Another song by the Icelandic artist who performs the hymn also appears in the show.
Heyr himna smiður (Hear, Smith of the Heavens) is a beloved hymn in Iceland that is a popular choice in funerals and for choir performances. It is believed to have been penned by the ancient poet Kolbeinn Tumason in the early 13th century. It is traditionally sung to a melody composed by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson.
Contacted by the producers
Local singer Hildur Guðnadóttir recorded a version of the hymn for her record Saman in 2014. According to local news site Mbl.is, the hymn appears in two episodes of Handmaid's Tale. Her song Erupting Light from the same album can also be heard in the series.
Hildur tells Mbl.is that she has gotten a strong reaction from people to the songs who've found it curious to hear the Icelandic language in the show. The producers contacted her publisher to get a permission to use the songs but Hildur says she does not know where they got the idea. She is currently busy composing the soundtrack to the film Soldado, the sequel to the Academy Awards nominated movie Sicario.
The Handmaid's Tale is based on a dystopian novel by the same name by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. It deals with a future totalitarian theocracy where women are subjugated and forced to bear children for the ruling class.
