Gjallarhorn Score and Parts

Commissioned work composed by the Valencian Institute of Music (IVM) to be interpreted in the Horn XXXVI International Congress, held in Valencia in July 2004.

I.- Gjallarhorn (“The Sounding Horn”) It is the Horn by Heimdallr, the guardian of the gods. It lies hidden beneath the third Yggdrasil world tree root. Heimdall protecting Horn Gjallarhorn, which could be heard from the sky, Earth, and the lower world; it was believed that it would sound the Horn to summon the gods to sacrifice their enemies, the Giants, and approaching the Ragnarok, the end of the world of gods and men. In Ragnarok, sounds last and is heard worldwide, by calling the warriors and wrestlers for battle. It is also called Gjall.

II.- Heimdall Son of Odin. Its name meant that throws light rays. It was the guardian of the gods, a God of light. Called the shining God and the God of white skin, Heimdall lived at the entrance of Asgard, where protected Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge. It could sleep less than a bird, he could see 100 leagues (557 km and 270 m), and could hear grow grass meadows and the wool on a sheep skin. In addition your ear was prodigious.

III.- Odin Era the Supreme God, father of all men and many of the gods. He was the God of wisdom and war. When sat on his throne Lidskjavl, saw everything what was happening in the world. Also had two Ravens Hugin and Munin leaving every morning and returning before breakfast to give account to Odin all which had seen and heard. Gere and Frece are its two wolves who eat food of Odin, because he was only wine. His horse Sleipner had eight legs and ran more than any other animal or man both by air and land and water. It was also the God of death of the Warriors, who carried Valhal when he died.