Hafliði Hallgrímsson (1941 -)

Started by Mirror Image, February 01, 2014, 08:16:58 AM

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Mirror Image



An important figure in the field of Icelandic contemporary music with a growing international reputation, is Hafliði Hallgrimsson. Born in 1941 in the small town of Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland. He began to play the cello at the age of eleven and from 1958-1962 studied the cello at the Music School in Reykjavík. The following year he attended classes given by the legendary cellist Enrico Mainardi in Rome. Having been a member of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra from 1963-1964, he continued his studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music. He was awarded the coveted Madam Suggia Prize and a Recital Medal when leaving the Academy in 1966. Following his studies at the Academy, he studied composition privately with Elizabeth Luthyens, Dr.Alan Bush and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

His music has been performed by important soloists and orchestras in many parts of the world. A critic of the Guardian described his music in 1992 : As "being in dreamtime and dreamspace, both of which are accessible,yet also disconcertingly new and strange. This music is strongly original and personal,yet immediately enjoyable. It yields more and more on repeated hearings. It is obviously made with consummate skill,and yet it remains enigmatic. It often defies academic analysis.It is both refined and earthy. It is abundant in colour and feeling"

He remained in Britain and became a member of the Haydn String Trio and freelanced for several years with many of the most prestigious chamber orchestras in London, such as the Monteverdi Orchestra, the English Chamber orchestra, and the Menuhin Festival orchestra.

In 1977 he moved with his family to Scotland to take up the position of a principal cellist in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra,but in spite of his success as a performer, the urge to compose became stronger and in 1983 Hallgrimsson left his post with the orchestra to devote himself to composition full-time. His catalogue includes instrumental,chamber and orchestral works as well as music theatre and an opera.

He achieved international recognition for the highly successful POEMI (1984) for violin and string orchestra written specially for Jaime Laredo and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. POEMI was awarded the prestigious Nordic Council Prize in 1986 after winning the second Prize in at the 1985 International Wieniawski competition in Poland.

It's not surprising that many of his compositions are for strings, and are central to his catalogue. Many of his major works are for concertos for the whole string family but there are also works for strings only, such as a series of eighteen short compositions for string orchestra,published in three volumes and entitled DAYDREAMS IN NUMBERS (1986). These pieces cover a huge range of technical and musical styles, and are to a large degree aimed at string ensembles of students, but are also demanding enough for professionals string orchestras. The first volume was commissioned by the excellent Helsinki Junior Strings from Finland and premiered at the International Festivals of Youth Orchestras in Edinburgh 1987)

Often inspired by visual art (Hallgrimsson is himself an accomplished painter),his unique language is both eerie and paradoxical. With repeated listening,the seemingly simple can unveil mysterious depths, and what seems impenetrable can reveal itself with unexpected clarity on repeated hearings.

Poemi, written for Jaime Laredo, is the first in a series of works for solo instrument/voice and string orchestra. It was premiered in Iceland by Jaime Laredo and Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 1985 conducted by the composer. Rima 1993 for soprano and string orchestra was commissioned by the Norwegian Chamber orchestra and was premiered at the Arts Festival at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in Norway in 1994 by Ragnhild Sörensen soprano the Norwegian Chamber orchestra conducted by Terje Tönnesen. Herma 1994-5 for cello and string orchestra was commissioned by William Conway and the Scottish Chamber orchestra. It was premiered by the dedicatee and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in Central Hall Glasgow 1995 conducted by Ivor Bolton. The next in the series is the viola concerto Ombra 1999 commissioned by the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation and dedicated to and premiered by Lars Anders Tomter and the Scottish Chamber orchestra conducted by Mikko Frank in St.Andrews in Scotland in 1999.

Although he admits to some major influences, Hallgrimsson's musical style is entirely original, and to quote a well known Scottish critic; "the music reflects the composer himself, enigmatic,yet eloquent,inscrutable and self contained.He is a personality who finds voice in his highly individual music". Involvement with the visual arts remains a key influence on Hallgrimsson's musical style,and in 1996 he was commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to write Still Life(1996) in conjunction with specially commissioned painting by Craigie Aitchison. Aitchison's work is also an influence behind Hallgrimsson's large orchestral orchestral composition Crucifixion 1997 later to become Symphony no.I. This large-scale work was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as a part of the Peter Maxwell Davies Milennium Programme of Commissions.

The Northlands Festival commissioned Mini-Stories in 1997, a music theatre piece for narrator and ensemble setting translated texts by the Russian absurdist Daniil Kharms. It has since been taken up by the Hebrides and Caput Ensembles. It's deft evocation and bleak world of humour, nonsense and melancholy has been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics. In 2000 the Arts Association of Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavík commissioned Passia,a work for soloists,choir orchestra and two organs to celebrate 1000 years of christianity in Iceland. In 2002 Hallgrimsson was awarded a Nesta Fellowship for four years which led to a highly productive period of composing. A cello concerto was commissioned jointly by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra,Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra in 2003. The concerto was premiered by the dedicatee Truls Mörk and the Oslo Philharmonic at the Ultima Festival in Oslo 2003.

A premier of his opera Die Wält der Zwischenfälle (The World of Incidences) 2003 based on texts by the Russian absurdist writer Daniil Kharms, was also premiered at Theatre Lubeck in 2003 and received altogether eleven performances there and at the Museums Quartier the following year to unanimous critical acclaim. Mini-Stories were also staged six times in 2004 by Semper Oper in Dresden (Kleine Szene) Notes from a Diary 2005 for viola and piano, inspired by a visit to the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam, was premiered at the International Viola Congress in Reykjavík that same year. Several chamber works followed as well as a substantial composition for clarinet and orchestra, La Serenissima 2007 revised and renamed The Bride of the Sea in 2012. It was inspired by a visit to Venice and premiered in Oslo in it's original form by Einar Jóhannesson and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra in 2007. The Tampere Philharmonic in Finland and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra commissioned jointly the orchestral composition NARRATIVES FROM THE DEEP NORTH which was premiered in Tampere 2008 by the Tampere philharmonic and John Storgards. SONNAMBULO 2008 a concerto for double bass and orchestra, was commissioned by the Scottish Bass trust. Was premiered at Queen's Hall Edinburgh in 2009 by its dedicatee Nicholas Bailey and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Baldur Brönneman. In 2008 Hallgrimsson was appointed a composer in residence with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and his large-scale Orchestral composition NORÐURDJÚP was premiered by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Rumon Gamba in March 2009,as a part of the orchestras celebration of it's 60th birthday. In 2010 the Northland Symphony Orchestra commissioned HYMNOS, an orchestral composition for the opening concert of Hof, the new cultural centre in Akureyri.

As a resident composer of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, Hallgrimsson will compose further two compositions; a violin concerto for Jennifer Pike to be premiered in Harpa in Reykjavík in March 2013 and a concerto for orchestra to be premiered when completed.

(Biography taken from Hallgrimsson website)

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Anyone here familiar with this composer's music? I've known about his music for a few years now actually as when I was first getting into Icelandic composers, Hallgrimsson's name is one I frequently ran across. I'm just now getting to his music. I bought a few recordings and have heard multiple excepts of his Passia and found it quite moving. I look forward to hearing more of his music.

Mirror Image

No fans here? Has anyone heard any of Hallgrimsson's music? I suppose Iceland isn't exactly the 'classical capital of Europe'. :P

Mirror Image

An excerpt from Passia -

http://www.youtube.com/v/lOMwitgoSj4

Absolutely gorgeous to my ears. Can't wait to hear the whole work.

San Antone

I was just listening to some of his music ~

Quote from: sanantonio on January 28, 2014, 12:42:37 PM


Hallgrimsson ~  Cello Concerto
Truls Mork, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Storgards

Wonderful piece by an Icelandic composer new to me.

Hafliði Hallgrímsson (born 1941 in Akureyri) is an Icelandic composer, currently living in Bath. Hafliði was the Principal Cellist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, but left that position in 1983 to pursue a full-time career as a composer. In 2008, he became composer-in-residence of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (through 2010).

I like his music.

Pat B

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 01, 2014, 01:12:20 PM
No fans here? Has anyone heard any of Hallgrimsson's music? I suppose Iceland isn't exactly the 'classical capital of Europe'. :P

I have the Passía CD on Ondine. It's probably more up your alley than mine, but I ought to give it another spin.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Pat B on February 01, 2014, 03:49:07 PM
I have the Passía CD on Ondine. It's probably more up your alley than mine, but I ought to give it another spin.

Well, what's your alley? That's the question. :)

Pat B

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 01, 2014, 03:59:06 PM
Well, what's your alley? That's the question. :)

Oh, I just meant that my classical listening is probably more traditional than yours.

I'll put that disc in my listening queue, but it could be a while before I get to it.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Pat B on February 03, 2014, 07:59:01 AM
Oh, I just meant that my classical listening is probably more traditional than yours.

I'll put that disc in my listening queue, but it could be a while before I get to it.

Ah, I see. Well, who are some of your favorite composers?

Pat B

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 03, 2014, 07:53:06 PM
Ah, I see. Well, who are some of your favorite composers?

Beethoven, Schubert. I have finally gotten into Mahler, and these days I listen to him more than anybody else.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Pat B on February 03, 2014, 08:27:54 PM
Beethoven, Schubert. I have finally gotten into Mahler, and these days I listen to him more than anybody else.

Mahler was one of those composer I liked instantly but for whatever reason I never really bothered listening to his music that much. My Dad loves Mahler's music and continuously sites him as his favorite composer above all others. Of course, I feel the same way about Shostakovich. 8) He's my numero uno.

San Antone

Happy birthday



Haflidi Hallgrímsson : 9/18/41

One of the most important figures in this flowering of Icelandic music is Haflidi Hallgrímsson, born in 1941 in the small town of Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland. He began playing the cello at the age of ten and studied in Reykjavik and at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome. On returning from Rome, he continued his studies in London with Derek Simpson at the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the coveted Madame Suggia Prize in 1966. The following year he began compositional studies with Dr Alan Bush and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. On leaving the Academy, he remained in Britain, eventually making his home in Scotland on being appointed Principal Cellist with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Although he admits to some major influences, Hallgrímsson's musical style is entirely original, showing a sensitivity to line and colour, shape and texture, not surprising from a composer who in 1969 performed one of his earliest compositions,Solitaire for solo cello, surrounded by an exhibition of his own drawings and paintings. Such involvement with the visual arts remains a key influence on Hallgrimsson's musical style and in 1996 he was commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to write Still Life, in conjunction with a specially commissioned painting by Craigie Aitchison. Aitchison's work is also an influence behind Hallgrimsson's Symphony No.1 (Crucifixion) (1997), commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Maxwell Davies Millennium Programme of commissions.

https://www.youtube.com/v/PMb_8YwKqHI

vandermolen

#11
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 01, 2014, 01:28:51 PM
An excerpt from Passia -

http://www.youtube.com/v/lOMwitgoSj4

Absolutely gorgeous to my ears. Can't wait to hear the whole work.
What an impressive piece of music! Thanks for posting John.
PS just found a second hand copy on Amazon UK for c.£5.00 so have ordered.  >:D
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Luke

He's an impressive composer. I have the twofer of his string quartets (plus other related music) - it's an interesting release in itself, some of the works re given in two different recordings to give a more rounded view. But the music itself is very strong stuff, highly expressive, an appealing, sophisticated, detailed soundworld which shows complete understanding of string sonority and technique (the pieces are, apparently, ferociously hard, but they are very communicative).

Scion7

I'm waiting for his tone poem, The Frozen Lava Fields.
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Sean

Quote from: Luke on September 18, 2015, 06:36:09 AM
He's an impressive composer. I have the twofer of his string quartets (plus other related music) - it's an interesting release in itself, some of the works re given in two different recordings to give a more rounded view. But the music itself is very strong stuff, highly expressive, an appealing, sophisticated, detailed soundworld which shows complete understanding of string sonority and technique (the pieces are, apparently, ferociously hard, but they are very communicative).

How do Luke, good to see you still seem as keen a listener as ever. I've been revisiting some core repertory in recent times but have a computer-minded music friend who's provided a load of interesting stuff new to me, so I'm back exploring again. By Hallgrimsson I know only Poemi for violin and string orchestra but have made a note to track down a quartet or two.

vandermolen

#15
I'm just listening to his 'Passia' which I find very impressive. The orchestral sororities are extraordinary and this is a work of great depth which communicates directly and movingly. The ethereal quality of the music reminds me in places of Szymanowski and Gorecki. A very important discovery I think.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).