R$35
My Mother Told Me – Þat mælti mín móðir
Series: Vikings
Original text: Egill Skallagrímsson – Iceland, 10th century (traditionally 904–995)
Original text / Culture: Icelandic / Old Norse / Viking Age
Modern melody / text adaptation: Trevor Morris (Canadian)
Key: D minor
Time signature: 4/4
Tempo marking: ♩ = 70
Arrangement: Easy Piano
Arranger: Maiko Thomé de Araujo
Style / Character: Nordic / Old Norse-inspired / Neo-Medieval / cinematic
Type: Song / Viking-themed cinematic arrangement
Special features: accessible piano texture, regular performance score, additional Study Version with rhythmic counting guide, reference MP3
Format: Digital download (PDF + MP3) — 2 files (3.7MB)
Musical material: 2 useful pages — 1-page regular version + 1-page Study Version
“My Mother Told Me,” also known by its Old Norse opening “Þat mælti mín móðir,” has become strongly associated with the modern Viking and Nordic music aesthetic, particularly through the television series Vikings.
The text is attributed to the Icelandic poet Egill Skallagrímsson, traditionally dated to 904–995, placing its literary origin within the world of medieval Icelandic and Old Norse culture.
The familiar modern musical setting and adaptation are associated with Trevor Morris, a Canadian composer, creating an interesting meeting between an ancient Nordic text and contemporary cinematic music.
This distinction is important: the historical and cultural origin of the text is Icelandic / Old Norse, while the modern melody and adaptation are the work of a Canadian composer.
The result is a piece that connects two very different worlds — Viking Age poetic imagery and modern soundtrack aesthetics — and has become especially popular among listeners and musicians interested in Nordic, medieval-inspired and historical-fantasy repertoire.
One of the most interesting aspects of My Mother Told Me is precisely this combination of historical and contemporary elements.
The original text belongs to an Icelandic / Old Norse cultural context, while Trevor Morris's modern musical treatment places it within a cinematic sound world familiar to contemporary audiences.
This gives the piece strong appeal for players interested in:
The arrangement therefore works both as an accessible piano piece and as an introduction to a repertoire where ancient cultural references are reinterpreted through modern musical language.
This arrangement by Maiko Thomé de Araujo presents the familiar melody in D minor as an accessible version for solo piano.
The piano writing is intentionally clear and direct.
The right hand carries the principal melody, while the left hand provides a simple harmonic and rhythmic foundation, allowing the dark and restrained character of the music to remain effective without requiring a technically dense accompaniment.
This makes the arrangement especially suitable for pianists who want to perform a recognizable Nordic-inspired theme while working with a comparatively straightforward texture.
The arrangement concentrates on the musical elements that make the piece immediately recognizable:
Rather than creating an unnecessarily complex piano texture, the edition keeps the accompaniment functional and supportive.
This approach is particularly effective for My Mother Told Me, since much of the impact of the piece comes from melodic identity, repetition, atmosphere and rhythmic stability.
The result works well for:
The PDF includes not only the regular performance score but also a separate Study Version.
This version presents the same piano arrangement while adding a clear rhythmic counting line above the score:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
The visual guide shows the relationship between the principal beats and their eighth-note subdivisions throughout each measure.
This is especially useful for players who understand the notes but need help placing shorter rhythmic figures accurately within the pulse.
Instead of relying only on visual interpretation of the notation, the student can connect:
written rhythm → beat number → subdivision → piano movement
Even an accessible piano arrangement can become difficult when the performer is uncertain about exactly where short notes or rhythmic figures fall within the beat.
The Study Version provides a visible rhythmic framework that can help develop:
Once the rhythm becomes secure, the pianist can return to the cleaner regular score and focus more fully on phrasing, dynamics and musical character.
The cultural identity of the material is primarily Icelandic / Old Norse, connected with the text attributed to Egill Skallagrímsson and the broader Viking Age literary tradition.
The modern musical treatment, however, comes from Trevor Morris, a Canadian composer, whose adaptation helped bring the text into a contemporary cinematic setting.
For this reason, the edition can be understood through two complementary contexts:
Historical / cultural origin:
Icelandic / Old Norse / Viking Age
Modern musical adaptation:
Trevor Morris – Canadian
This distinction preserves both the historical identity of the original material and the modern authorship of the musical setting.
Avoid playing the piece too heavily simply because of its Viking association.
Much of the effectiveness of the melody comes from its simplicity, steady pulse and dark atmosphere.
Keep the melodic line clear and deliberate while allowing the left hand to provide a firm foundation without covering the right hand.
At ♩ = 70, there is enough space for the notes to resonate and for the melody to retain a solemn, almost narrative quality.
When using the Study Version, count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
until every rhythmic figure can be placed confidently within the measure.
Once the rhythm feels secure, gradually stop emphasizing the counting mentally and allow the phrase to flow more naturally.
A restrained interpretation often works better than an excessively dramatic one, preserving the austere and ancient-feeling character associated with the material.
The combination of a normal score and a rhythmic Study Version makes this edition practical for piano lessons.
The teacher can use the Study Version to work specifically on:
The student can then use the regular version as a cleaner performance score.
Because the material is short, recognizable and atmospherically strong, it can also be an engaging introduction to Nordic and medieval-inspired repertoire for students interested in television series, Viking culture, historical themes or fantasy music.