Motif
irresistible fairy music causing compulsory dance or fatal performance
irresistible_fairy_music_causing_compulsory_dance_or_fatal_performance
A motif of the Enchanting Music and Sound Power family, within the sub-family Luring, Procession, and Compulsory Dance. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
norse
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Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas CHAPTER XXII: LOKI / CHAPTER XXIII: THE GIANTS / CHAPTER XXIV: THE DWARFS / CHAPTER XXV: THE ELVES; lines 9042-9171 confidence: high
The elf-dance is an irresistible air; anyone hearing it must dance, and a mortal who plays it cannot stop until death unless he plays it backward or someone cuts the violin strings.
The elf-dance tune forces hearers to dance and can compel a mortal musician to play until death unless the music is reversed or the strings are cut.
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