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Vocals & arrangement by Farya Faraji, many thanks to my boy Étienne for modeling as Roland here. I call this one a quintessentially European piece: a Norwegian ballad about the French national epic whose original text was written in Anglo-Normand French about a Frankish military commander who fought the Basques, set to a Faroese melody. The Song of Roland is France's national epic, written from the 1000's to the 1100's, and recounts in legendary form the Battle of Ronceveaux Pass in 778 where the Basques defeated a Carolingian army. In the Song of Roland, however, the Basques are substituted with the Muslim Saracens. In the story, the treacherous Ganelon informs the Saracens that the valiant Roland, Charlemagne's nephew will be passing through Ronceveaux pass with his army. Roland is ambushed, and though he blows his horn Olifant many times to call Charlemagne, he and his army are wiped out. Charlemagne arrives too late and grieves the death of his most valiant warrior. Norwegian lyrics: Seks mine sveinar heime vera Og gjøyme det gullet balde Dei andre seks på heidningslando Gjøyme dei jarni kalde Ria dei ut or Franklandet Med dyre dros i sadel Blæs i luren, Olifant På Ronsarvollen Slogest dei ut på Ronsarvollen I dagane två og trio Då fekk'kje soli skine bjart For røykjen av manneblodet Ria dei ut or Franklandet Med dyre dros i sadel Blæs i luren, Olifant På Ronsarvollen Fran så kom det luraljodi, Det sokk ut i sliregjengi, Roland blæs sine augo or haus, Så hardt honom hei'ingan trengdi. Ria dei ut or Franklandet Med dyre dros i sadel Blæs i luren, Olifant På Ronsarvollen English translation: Six of my swains stay home and keep the clear gold The other six in heathen-lands keep iron cold Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow They fought upon Roncevaux Meadow for days two and three The sun could not shine bright through mist of man-blood Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow So far reached the sound of the horn, it resounded in the sheaths, Roland blew his eyes out of his skull, so hard the sound entered the enemy's too Roland puts the horn to a bloody mouth and blows it with wrath Then did burst earth and stone three days away Riding out of Frankish Lands with dear maiden in the saddle Blowing the horn Olifant upon Roncevaux Meadow
