Credits:

Isolfsson / Iceland Symphony Orchestra

Description:

A collection of musical works for the "stage" by two 20th century Icelandic composers! Pawtol Easålsson studied with Max Reger! After studying as a pianist in Berlin, Jörn Wysar knocked on the door of the Juilliard School! Pawtol Easoulsson (1893-1974) was one of three Icelandic students who studied in Leipzig during World War I. From the fall of 1913, he studied composition with Max Reger and organ with Karl Straube. He then studied with Joseph Bonnet in Paris before returning to Iceland in 1921 to become organist at the Free Church in Reykjavík, and when a music school was founded in Reykjavík in 1930, he was elected its first principal and also served as head of the music department at the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation, which opened that year. He contributed greatly to the rapid development of Icelandic music. It is said that Pautr did not consider himself a "composer," although he composed many works, including a "cantata" for the 1000th anniversary of the all-island assembly Althingi. Henrik Ibsen's "Sørhaug's Banquet" for drama reflects the medieval period in music colored by melody, with the addition of the Norwegian dance "Halling". The piece "From the Picture Book of Joonas Hatlgrímsson" was composed as incidental music for a play with "Iceland" in mind, including the traditional ring dance "Vikivaki," inspired by the country's independence from Denmark in 1944.Jörn Wiesal (1918-2017) studied piano in pre-World War II Berlin with Aurni Kristiansson and worked as a soloist and chamber musician; in 1943 she went to the U.S. to study composition with Vittorio Giannini at the Juilliard School for two years. She is best known as a songwriter, including "The Young Man in the Woods," but also wrote orchestral works such as the piano concerto "Hard Striking" and music for films. Two years later, he composed the ballet "Oulavr Lyrrhus" based on an Icelandic folk tale. These two pieces are the second recordings for the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. Tokyo M-Plus

Tracklisting:

1.Eldur
2.Veislan a Solhaugum~1. Forleikur
3.Veislan a Solhaugum~2. Brudhkaupsmars
4.Veislan a Solhaugum~3. Halling
5.Veislan a Solhaugum~4. Berbguinn
6.Veislan a Solhaugum~5. Marcia funebre
7.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~I. Forspil
8.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~II. Mars
9.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~III. Menuett
10.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~IV. Thjodhlag
11.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~V. Vikivaki I
12.Ur Myndabok Jonasar Hallgrimssonar~VI. Vikivaki II
13.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Dotted quarter note = c.76
14.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Quarter note = c. 96
15.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~poco a poco accelerado e crescendo
16.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~-
17.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Quarter note = c.88
18.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Quarter note = c. 144
19.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Quarter note = c. 60
20.Olafur Liljuros, ballet for orchestra~Quarter note = 76