Jomfruva Ingjebjør

Jomfruva Ingjebjør[g]

Country: Telemark, Norway
Type: line dance
Formation: any number of couples in broken or closed circle, M standing to L of W, all facing into centre of circle.
Hold: færøytaket - holding hands in line, palms together, so that thumbs are crossed, hands raised slightly above shoulder height, and elbows away from body.
Steps:

attersteg - step L to L side (1:1), close R to L (1:3), step L to L side (1:4-6), step R to R side (2:1-3), step L to L side (2:4), close R to L (2:6), step L to L side (3:1-3), step R to R side (3:4-6), etc.
[Ie 2 full attersteg over 3 bars of music. All steps are danced with a svikt (=lift), but those over 3 beats have 2 lifts.]
sviktegongesteg - similar to walking step, but body motion is down on (1:1-2) and a strong lift on (1:3), ie 2 steps over 1 bar of music. [Note: rhythm is 6/4-time.]

Sheet music: Semb, Klara Norske folkedansar: songdansar. Rev. ed. by Noregs Ungdomslag. Oslo: Noregs Boklag/Det Norske Samlaget, 1985 p. 72.
Recordings a modern rendition by Gåte of an old ballad
Lyrics [in Norwegian]

Bars		Dance progression
1-8	(a)	Starting with L foot, move CW with 2 attersteg and the first 4 beats of a 3rd, the last 2 beats being danced L R.
9-12	(b)	All M form closed (or broken circle) in front of the W, forming arches with joined hands, and leaning slightly backwards. M advance with 3 sviktegongesteg (L R L), and retire with 3 sviktegongesteg (R L R) - without closing feet either advancing or retiring. Meanwhile all W, holding out skirts and with heads bowed and turned to face CCW, dance 3 sviktegongesteg to the R (L R L) behind the circle of men (finishing behind corner M) - L foot forward, (moving CCW), R forward turning 1/2 way to face CW, and L backwards without closing feet. She then dances 3 sviktegongesteg (R L R) CW behind the circle of men, to finish in original place - R forward, L forward while turning about 1/2 way to face CCW, and R slightly backwards, but without closing feet.
\|:1-12:\|		Repeat (a) and (b) with each verse of the ballad.
1-8	(a)	Final verse "No heve sveinen funni jomfruva" Repeat (a) above.
9-12	(b)	All M form closed (or broken circle) behind the W, and leaning slightly backwards, slowly raise joined hands to form arches as they retire with 3 sviktegongesteg (L R L). M then advance with 3 sviktegongesteg (R L R), without closing feet. Meanwhile all W, holding skirts, advance with 3 sviktegongesteg (L R L) - L forward, turning towards partner, R continuing forward and turning CCW to face partner, and L behind R. They then dance 3 sviktegongesteg (R L R) to finish in original place - R forwards, L forwards while turning to face into the circle, and R behnd L, but without closing feet.

This was one of the samdanser for Nordlek 1973 in Esbo, Finland.
By the time this ballad (text and music) was collected in Telemarken from 7 informants, over the period 1840-1863, it was only found in Telemarken, having apparently been forgotten elsewhere in Norway. It was first published in 1853. There are Danish, Faeroese, Finnish and Swedish versions, so it has likely been known throughout the Nordic countries.
Source: Semb, Klara Norske folkedansar: songdansar. Rev. ed. by Noregs Ungdomslag. Oslo: Noregs Boklag/Det Norske Samlaget, 1985 pp. 72-77.
Translation: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2020-06-10.

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