Megas and Grimur – The Punkmeister and the Pietist

Megas (Magnus Þór Jónsson, 1945) occupies a central place in Iceland as a singer, songwriter and writer. Influenced by rock and roll and folk music, his work is also deeply rooted in classical Icelandic poetry. He has, in particular, had a lifelong interest in the Hymns of the Passion by Hallgrimur Petursson (1614-1674) whose baroque poetry holds a special place in Icelandic culture and is solemnly recited at the radio every Easter.