kvæði

Kvæði is the Icelandic term for poems or songs. In Icelandic usage it covers a broad range of lyric and narrative verse, from medieval skaldic poetry and saga-linked songs to modern folk and popular songs. The word can denote a single poem as well as a body of poetry or a musical-tuned composition meant to be sung.

Historically, kvæði emerged from oral song and storytelling traditions and were later transcribed in manuscripts. Medieval kvæði often dealt with heroic deeds, myth, religion, love, and nature, and they fed into the broader corpus of Icelandic literary culture. In the centuries that followed, collectors and scholars recorded many kvæði from oral tradition, contributing to the preservation of Icelandic linguistic and poetic heritage. Today, kvæði remain a living part of Icelandic music culture, performed in schools, at gatherings, and in folk and contemporary music settings.

Form and performance vary widely. Kvæði can be short or long, lyric or ballad-like, and are frequently sung to melodies. Some pieces draw on traditional Icelandic poetics and versification, while others are composed in modern meters and musical styles. The performance context ranges from solo singing to choral arrangements and instrumental accompaniment.

Cultural significance and regional use extend beyond Iceland, where similar terms and concepts exist in related Nordic traditions. In Iceland, kvæði are valued for their role in language preservation, storytelling, and national literary identity, linking ancient narrative forms with contemporary musical expression. Related genres include drápa, rímur, ballads, and other forms of folk song.