Composer Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Year composed2024
Categories Orchestra
Instrumentation 2.2(C.A.).2.2. - 4.2.3.1. - timp - 2 perc - hp - pf - strings
Duration18 minutes
Premiere24 November 2024 - North Iceland SO, cond. Daníel Bjarnason
Composer Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Year composed2024
Categories Orchestra
Instrumentation 2.2(C.A.).2.2. - 4.2.3.1. - timp - 2 perc - hp - pf - strings
Duration18 minutes
Premiere24 November 2024 - North Iceland SO, cond. Daníel Bjarnason
Commissioned by The North Iceland SO
Supported by Launasjóður tónskálda and Tónlistarsjóður
Concerto No. 2 for Orchestra was composed between 2020 and 2024 (with interruptions) for the North Iceland Symphony Orchestra at the orchestra's request. The work is in three movements.
Its roots are diverse, but I drew inspiration, among other things, from a melody sung by Þorbjörn Kristinsson (1918–2001), who was for many years an elementary school teacher at Glerárskóli in Akureyri. A recording is available online (ismus.is). The melody that I had in mind while composing the work was sung by Þorbjörn to the following verse by his brother, Hjörleifur Kristinsson (1918–1992):
Dags er glæta þrotin þá
þokan vætir kinnar.
Skjóna fætur skripla á
skuggum næturinnar
When the day's glimmer is gone/the mist dampens cheeks./Skjóni’s* feet slip/on the shadows of the night. - *Skjóni is a name for a horse.
SSB
ÞAU SEM ÞAÐ KUNNA
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson, Folk verse - Þjóðvísa
Based on cultural heritage, Voice + 1 instrument - Art song
2008
1 minutes
PASSACAGLIE
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Instrumental Duo
2023
11 minutes
HVAR ER Á FRÓNI FEGRI SVEIT?
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Based on cultural heritage, Folk music, Solo works
2016
6 minutes
Í STUNDARHEIMI
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Solo works
2023
11 minutes
FANTASY AND CLOCKWORK
Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Solo works
2023
11 minutes
SYNGDU, NÆTURGALI
Gylfi Garðarsson, Anon. Höfundur óþekktur, Gylfi Garðarsson, Snorri Sigfús Birgisson
Voice + 1 instrument - Art song
1980
3 minutes