#ranen

Fürst Wizlaw von Rügen und seine große Liebe, Fürstin Margarete, machen eine Reise. Über einen rutschigen Steg gelangen sie auf das Schiff, ein Geistlicher hilft ihnen dabei. Das Wasser des Meeres ist kalt, tief und salzig. Die Leute tragen schon warme Mäntel, denn das Wetter ist kalt. Auch der König der Dänen und Slawen, Erik Menved, ist auf dem Schiff. Er trägt eine goldene Krone. Zwei Knappen aus der Heerschar, Satko zu Saatel und der wendische Vyriz, blasen fröhlich auf langen Fanfaren. *Eine Ruginiliebesgeschichte, überliefert aus dem Polabischen - welches der Sprache der Rugini, dem Ranischen, ähnlich sein soll

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ENGLISH

Liner notes to the installation Rugini by Niki Matita

The largest Danish island Bornholm is closer to the largest German (Baltic Sea) island Rügen than it is to its capital Copenhagen. This means that Denmark grows 116.5kg and Germany 37kg of rye per inhabitant. That puts these two countries in the top five largest rye-growing countries in the world.

For over 1200 years, rye was synonymous with grain, i.e. the staple food, the breadfruit. The name of the island of Rügen (lat. Rugia) goes back to this grain.

The Rugini (also Ranen, Rujanen, Ruani) were a West Slavic people on the islands of Rügen, Bornholm and the surrounding mainland. The tribe's name refers to the practice of growing rye, which is still typical of the Baltic region today. Little has survived of their language, their music and their customs, but there are some references to this crop, including erotic ones, in the folkloric arts around the world, which date back well into the Middle Ages.

Prince Wizlaw of Rügen and his great love, Princess Margarete, go on a journey. They get onto the ship via a slippery footbridge, helped by a clergyman. The sea water is cold, deep and salty. The people are already wearing warm coats because the weather is cold. The King of the Danes and Slavs, Erik Menved, is also on the ship. He is wearing a golden crown. Two squires from the army, Satko zu Saatel and the Wendish Vyriz, are happily blowing long fanfares.