The Sound of Spirits: Music, Gjallarhorn, and Magic

September 23, 2026

In the Norse culture, silence was rare during important rituals. Whether it was a sacrifice festival (blót), a funeral, or a magical séance, sound was the driving force. The völvas and other religious practitioners made use of a specific combination of rhythmic instruments and their own voice to enter an animistic world.

Viking völva performs galdr during an ecstatic ritual, where chants and incantations are part of the seiðr practice.

Quick Facts: Ritual Sound

Gjalder: A high, almost screaming singing technique that was used for spells.
Seiðr: magic that was primarily practiced by the völva.
Instruments: Rattles, bone flutes, lyres, and possibly shamanic drums.
The Vett: A term from the Lokasenna that likely refers to a ritual drum.
Function: Sound waves have an impact on the entire body and bring someone into ecstasy from gjalder to disco.

Gjalder: The Voice as Weapon

The most important form of ritual music was the gjalder (or galdr). This was a ritual singing style that sharply differed from normal speech.

The technique: Gjalder was often sung with a high, piercing voice. The word is related to the Old High German word for "scream" or "call".
Magical power: It was believed that the right vibrations in the voice could influence the elements, paralyze enemies, or reveal the future. The völva used gjalder to amplify her seiðr power.
Women and men: While seiðr was primarily practiced by women, gjalder was a discipline also mastered by men (such as Odin) to activate rune magic.

Viking völva makes contact with a vættr (spirit being) during an ecstatic ritual as part of her shamanic seiðr practice.

The Ritual Drum and the "Vett"

Although no Viking drums have survived due to the perishable nature of wood, there is strong evidence that they used them, similar to the Sami shamans in the north.

Loki's accusation: In the Lokasenna, Loki accuses the god Odin of "striking a vett like a völva". Many historians interpret this vett as a shamanic drum.
Trance: The monotonous rhythm of a drum is a universal method for entering a deep trance. For the völva, this was essential to make her spiritual journey to other worlds.

Viking völva practices seiðr and performs galdr, using ritual chants to promote trance and spiritual communication.

Rattles and Shakers: The Sound of the Wagon

In the richest völva graves, such as those of Oseberg and Fyrkat, striking iron rattles have been found.

Construction: These rattles consisted of multiple iron rings attached to a staff.
Spiritual function: The jingling sound of iron was seen in many European cultures as protection against evil spirits. During a procession or ritual, the jingling announced the arrival of the seeress and created a 'sacred space' where magic could take place.

Viking völva performs a ritual with her völva staff, an important attribute within the Norse seiðr tradition.

Social Music: Lyres and Flutes

Outside of magic, music also had an important social and storytelling function.

The Skald: Poets often recited their epic tales accompanied by a lyre (such as the Trossingen lyre). This six-string instrument was the mark of a civilized warrior and courtier.
Bone flutes: Made from the bones of birds or sheep, flutes were simple but popular instruments for everyday use.

Viking völva dances during a shamanic trance as part of an ecstatic ritual within the Norse spiritual tradition.

Conclusion: A Cosmos of Sound

For a Viking, sound was never just noise. The gjalder of the völva, the jingling of her iron staff, and the rhythm of the drum were the tools with which she influenced the threads of the Norns. Music was the language in which one spoke with the gods.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Did gjalder sound like modern singing?

Probably not. It is often described as a piercing, almost unnatural sound, more comparable to overtone singing or rhythmic recitation than to a melodic song.

Why haven't any drums been found in graves?

Drums were made from organic materials: a wooden frame and animal skin. In most soil conditions, these decay within a few decades. Only the iron rattles and bone flutes have survived.

Was music only for the elite?

No, but the instruments we find in graves (such as maple wood lyres with bronze fittings) were precious possessions of the aristocracy. Common people probably sang work songs or used simple flutes.