Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir is an Icelandic composer with atmospheric compositions, and her music is seeming to become more well known.
I had the great fortune of hearing her work, Metacosmos (2017) live performed at the 2019 Winnipeg New Music Festival, and it left a really great impression. Another work I have heard of hers is In The Light of Air (2013-14). Both wonderfully atmospheric pieces.
Is there anyone else familiar with this composer's music? :)
Here is a link to her website.
https://www.annathorvalds.com/ (https://www.annathorvalds.com/)
(https://assets.mycast.io/actor_images/actor-anna-thorvaldsdottir-78858_large.jpeg?1586490333)
I've heard Aerial by her. Depending on the mood, I quite like the almost primitive, ambient kind of vibe she has going on. Again, late evening listening in the same atmosphere as Feldman's Rothko Chapel. Kind of.
On a connected note, this would be a soft intro to Paleo-folk or Paleo-metal bands like Heilung, Nyttland, or Wyrdstaef.
Thank you for joining the thread, Foxandpeng. :) I didn't expect a response so soon to this thread. ;D
I'm not familiar with Aeriality, but I am assuming it is from this disc?
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODA0OTkzMC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NTU5NDExNzh9)
That's the one :). I quite like what I've heard so far. We do a fair but of nordic pagan/heathen atmospheric music that crosses back and forth with what I've heard so far, but lots more to discover from her.
I'm in love with Thorvaldsdottir's music! It's structurally very free but with a continuous flow, I also find it very cosmic sounding, and also at times, as foxandpeng stated, very primative.
These are the CDs I own featuring her music. The first two are only of Thorvaldsdottir's music whereas the rest are compilations featuring other Icelandic composers.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81H-brwS5RL._SL1500_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MfyNvfByL._SY355_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Y6NmmdTLL._SL1500_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718+6+ar2CL._SY355_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A145y7eZ2BL._SY355_.jpg)
This is the 3rd disc of this series by the Iceland SO, Thorvaldsdottir is not featured on it but if you like the other two from the series you'd like this as well. Icelandic composers seem to be similarly influenced.
(https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ocurrence.jpg?fit=2500%2C2560&quality=99&ssl=1)
Thorvaldsdottir (say this name three times fast! :P) is a cool composer. I only own two recordings which feature her music (Aerial and In the Light of Air), but she's awesome. I'd like to become more familiar with her music as these types of composers who wrote these soundscape, atmospheric works are fascinating to me.
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 12, 2021, 10:14:36 AM
Thorvaldsdottir (say this name three times fast! :P) is a cool composer. I only own two recordings which feature her music (Aerial and In the Light of Air), but she's awesome. I'd like to become more familiar with her music as these types of composers who wrote these soundscape, atmospheric works are fascinating to me.
Didn't know you were familiar with her music, John. PM awaits you. :laugh:
This one has just been released, but am not familiar with the composition:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODk0MTIxMy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2Mjg3MDU4MjF9)
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on October 12, 2021, 09:25:33 AM
I'm in love with Thorvaldsdottir's music! It's structurally very free but with a continuous flow, I also find it very cosmic sounding, and also at times, as foxandpeng stated, very primative.
These are the CDs I own featuring her music. The first two are only of Thorvaldsdottir's music whereas the rest are compilations featuring other Icelandic composers.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81H-brwS5RL._SL1500_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41MfyNvfByL._SY355_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Y6NmmdTLL._SL1500_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/718+6+ar2CL._SY355_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A145y7eZ2BL._SY355_.jpg)
This is the 3rd disc of this series by the Iceland SO, Thorvaldsdottir is not featured on it but if you like the other two from the series you'd like this as well. Icelandic composers seem to be similarly influenced.
(https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ocurrence.jpg?fit=2500%2C2560&quality=99&ssl=1)
Cool, Greg. Oh boy, you are really familiar with her stuff, that is awesome! :) Like I said, only familiar with Metacosmos and In The Light of Air thus far, but now just listened to Aeriality on YouTube.
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 12, 2021, 10:14:36 AM
Thorvaldsdottir (say this name three times fast! :P) is a cool composer. I only own two recordings which feature her music (Aerial and In the Light of Air), but she's awesome. I'd like to become more familiar with her music as these types of composers who wrote these soundscape, atmospheric works are fascinating to me.
You should checkout the Iceland Symphony series on Sono Luminus records. All three discs are great.
Link to
Occurrence...
https://www.sonoluminus.com/store/occurrence
You can find
Concurrence and
Recurrence here...
https://www.amazon.com/Concurrence-Iceland-Symphony-Orchestra/dp/B07XQRHFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=iceland+symphony&qid=1634063883&s=music&sr=1-1
Quote from: OrchestralNut on October 12, 2021, 10:35:40 AM
Cool, Greg. Oh boy, you are really familiar with her stuff, that is awesome! :) Like I said, only familiar with Metacosmos and In The Light of Air thus far, but now just listened to Aeriality on YouTube.
Hi, Ray. I feel if you like what you've already heard from Thorvaldsdottir, then you should enjoy the rest.
Do check it out, along with her other fellow Icelandic composers.
When I purchased the 3-Cds series from Sono Luminous a few months ago I thought about starting a thread for Icelandic composers, perhaps there is already one?
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on October 12, 2021, 10:39:17 AM
You can find Concurrence and Recurrence here...
https://www.amazon.com/Concurrence-Iceland-Symphony-Orchestra/dp/B07XQRHFQJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=iceland+symphony&qid=1634063883&s=music&sr=1-1
Earth to John (MI) - Don't Buy Concurrence........Don't Buy Concurrence......Don't Buy Concurrence. :D ;) 8)
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on October 12, 2021, 10:42:20 AM
Hi, Ray. I feel if you like what you've already heard from Thorvaldsdottir, then you should enjoy the rest.
Do check it out, along with her other fellow Icelandic composers.
When I purchased the 3-Cds series from Sono Luminous a few months ago I thought about starting a thread for Icelandic composers, perhaps there is already one?
I think there might be a blended Icelandic composers' thread, yes. However, I felt Thorvaldsdottir deserved an individual one and I've been meaning to create it and post about her for some time. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on October 12, 2021, 10:42:52 AM
Earth to John (MI) - Don't Buy Concurrence........Don't Buy Concurrence......Don't Buy Concurrence. :D ;) 8)
8)
Here's a fascinating interview with Thorvaldsdottir:
https://www.youtube.com/v/rMildeCyfIQ
And another one:
https://www.youtube.com/v/bLHru-uCaKA
Very fine composer. I LOVE that Sono Iceland Symphony series by the way, consistently interesting contemporary music.
I just listened to a couple of excerpts of her music---quite like it! The ones (so far) that I've sampled were Catamorphosis and Aiōn. Aiōn in particular was quite striking! Has anyone here heard the complete work?
Trying to figure out what to sample from here...
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on October 13, 2021, 06:40:18 AM
I just listened to a couple of excerpts of her music---quite like it! The ones (so far) that I've sampled were Catamorphosis and Aiōn. Aiōn in particular was quite striking! Has anyone here heard the complete work?
Trying to figure out what to sample from here...
PD
PD,
Do listen to Metacosmos, Aerialty and In The Light of Air. I think you would like those and these should be available on YouTube.
I will try to sample the ones you just mentioned.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on October 13, 2021, 07:10:08 AM
PD,
Do listen to Metacosmos, Aerialty and In The Light of Air. I think you would like those and these should be available on YouTube.
I will try to sample the ones you just mentioned.
Thanks. I'll check them out.
Just spent a while trying to see whether or not there might be a recording of it available to purchase and am not having any luck (re Aiōn). I did find this other neat excerpt of it (much shorter). I think that there was later a joint collaboration/performance with a dance troop (and orchestra was also involved). It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBNDfI5gFOg In any event, the excerpt on her website is longer.
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on October 13, 2021, 07:31:24 AM
Thanks. I'll check them out.
Just spent a while trying to see whether or not there might be a recording of it available to purchase and am not having any luck (re Aiōn). I did find this other neat excerpt of it (much shorter). I think that there was later a joint collaboration/performance with a dance troop (and orchestra was also involved). It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBNDfI5gFOg In any event, the excerpt on her website is longer.
PD
To my knowledge, there isn't a recording of
Aion yet. Hopefully, there will be soon, though.
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 13, 2021, 08:25:09 AM
To my knowledge, there isn't a recording of Aion yet. Hopefully, there will be soon, though.
I wonder whether or not one of the orchestra's that she has performed this with might have it on their website? The little bit that I saw of the combo dance version would be fascinating to watch too. :)
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on October 13, 2021, 08:30:00 AM
I wonder whether or not one of the orchestra's that she has performed this with might have it on their website? The little bit that I saw of the combo dance version would be fascinating to watch too. :)
PD
I have no idea, but there's so much other music of hers that is released that this is my only focus when talking about Thorvaldsdottir. :)
Quote from: OrchestralNut on October 12, 2021, 07:40:44 AM
Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir is an Icelandic composer with atmospheric compositions, and her music is seeming to become more well known.
I had the great fortune of hearing her work, Metacosmos (2017) live performed at the 2019 Winnipeg New Music Festival, and it left a really great impression.
https://www.annathorvalds.com/ (https://www.annathorvalds.com/)
(https://assets.mycast.io/actor_images/actor-anna-thorvaldsdottir-78858_large.jpeg?1586490333)
Nice piece.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on October 13, 2021, 07:10:08 AM
PD,
Do listen to Metacosmos, Aerialty and In The Light of Air. I think you would like those and these should be available on YouTube.
I will try to sample the ones you just mentioned.
Just listened to a concert recording of Metacosmos with Salonen in San Francisco....wow! Loved it! I hope that they make this live recording available on CD or download.
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on October 20, 2022, 04:19:21 AM
Just listened to a concert recording of Metacosmos with Salonen in San Francisco....wow! Loved it! I hope that they make this live recording available on CD or download.
PD
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it PD! :)