Kolbeinn Tumason (1173–1208) was a member of the Ásbirningar family clan, and was one of the most powerful chieftains in Iceland around the turn of the 13th century. He is best known for composing the hymn Heyr himna smiður (English: "Hear, Smith of heavens") on his deathbed. It is now a classic and often-sung Icelandic hymn. The music that accompanies the text was composed by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (1938–2013) Original lyrics: Heyr himna smiðr hvers skáldit biðr; komi mjúk til mín miskunnin þín

Last Friday we released a new single from our forthcoming album 'Infinity' - 'Heyr himna smiður' is a beautiful Icelandic hymn and one of our favourite pieces on the album. You can watch the whole video (and find links to stream the single) here: https://Voces8.lnk.to/InfinityFP/YouTube On July 4th, we'll be giving this hymn it's VOCES8 concert premiere as part of the first concert for our Live From London Summer 2021 festival! Find tickets on the festival website. | Voces8

Enjoy your day! Here we are singing the 13th century Icelandic hymn "Heyr, himna smiður" at a train station in Wuppertal, Germany, in 2013. The text for "Heyr, himna smiður" was written by Kolbeinn Tumason in 1208. The music was composed in the 1970s by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (1938-2013), one of Iceland's foremost contemporary composers. When the video was shot we had just finished playing a show at the venue Bürgerbahnhof Vohwinkel. The performance was completely spontaneous, but we're very gra

The fascinating story behind the medieval-looking monument outside Charing Cross Station… It is a replica of the original Charing Cross, one of twelve Eleanor Crosses that King Edward I erected after his wife Eleanor of Castile died in 1290. Most, including the one in London, was destroyed in the 17th century by the Parliamentarians. This one is a Victorian replica from 1865, designed by Edward Middleton Barry, who also designed the station. . . . . . . #london #londonhistory #livinglondonhistor

A powerful and thought-provoking sculpture on the slave trade and its abolition in 1807. The City of London made a lot of its wealth in the 17th and 18th centuries from the sugar and slave trades and then played a role in its abolition in the early 19th century. I have written up the history in a full blog post which you can read by clicking the link in my bio! . . . . #london #londonhistory #livinglondonhistory #slavetrade #britishempire #cityoflondon #historylovers #sculpture | Living London H