A Unique Musical Look at Saga Iceland

SAGA MUSICA tells a gripping story of people who sailed to Iceland in the 9th Century,
in search of a more peaceful life, and a safer future and fate for their families.

Saga Musica - An Ongoing Journey

SagaMusica Song Collection has been performed for thousands of guests, for the past three years.
It is indeed a unique way to introduce the epic Saga Heritage to foreign visitors.

The SagaMusica Song Collection was ignited some 25 years ago when musician/journalist
Valgeir Guðjónsson, sailed on Gaia, a marvelous 30 meter longship, from Bergen Norway to Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands. It was the first leg of Gaia's journey to Rio de Jainero.

Some 15 years passed and Valgeir and his wife Ásta moved to Eyrarbakki Village on Iceland's South Coast. Here the elements, the nature and the history started fermenting in Valgeir's mind and the Saga Music collection of songs and lyrics was born.

SagaMusica is currently a growing compilation about the characters, events, mindset and atmosphere in the Northwestern corner of Europe as Iceland was settled.

9 years later Valgeir found himself in Washington DC, co-producing a PBS / Smithsonian Institute Documentary Special, Leifur Eiriksson - The Man who Almost Changed the World, commemorating the Milllenium aniversary of the A.D. 1000 voyage to Vinland. Here the first Saga Music opus Windsong was written for the opening titles of the film.  

The Eyrarbakki Connection

Bjarni Herjólfsson, a merchant sailor steered his ship from Eyrar (as in Eyrarbakki), out of the Ölfusá River and headed West, to Greenland. He had just discovered that Herjófur, his father had moved to Greenland, following the  trail of Erik the Red. Driven off course by stong winds and currents Bjarni and his crew finally saw a coastline, a most welcome sight for weary sailors.


The men wanted to go step ashore but Bjarni realized that this was not the land he had aimed for. He decided to steer North, along the coast. Two days later the crew saw another coastline, flat and covered in forrest; again definitely not Greenland.

The sailed still further. Three days later snowpeaked mountains and glaciers appeared from the waves. Bjarni was still not convinced and turned the ship starboard and eastward, this time fighting foul weather and waters for four days.

The fourth coastline came in sight and Bjarni told his men that they were probably at last in Greenland and he was right.

Bjarni's stories were popular and he had to endure sarcastic critics who ridiculed him for being "incurious", as it is written in The Saga of the Greenlanders.

Time passed and the stories sparked interest in Leifur, the son of Erik the Red who discovered and settled Greenland. Leifur met Bjarni, bought his tried and tested ship and headed west as is documented the Sagas.

Bakkastofa - Eyrargata 32, Eyrarbakki 820, Iceland

bakkastofa@gmail.com / sagamusica@gmail.com

tel: +354 821 2426 / 821 2428 / 561 2429