Composer

:

Jón Leifs

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1944 - 1945

Average_duration

:

7:44

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Jón Leifs' 'Old Scaldic Verses from Iceland, Op. 31' is a choral work that was composed in 1940. The piece was premiered in Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 8, 1940, by the Icelandic National Choir and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the composer himself. The work is divided into three movements, each of which sets a different Old Norse poem to music. The first movement, 'Hávamál', is based on a poem from the Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems. The text of the poem is a series of maxims and advice on how to live a good life. Leifs' setting of the poem is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and angular melodies, which convey the harshness and severity of the poem's message. The second movement, 'Völuspá', is also based on a poem from the Edda. This poem tells the story of the creation of the world and the eventual destruction of the gods and the world itself. Leifs' setting of the poem is marked by its use of dense, complex harmonies and its dramatic shifts in tempo and dynamics, which reflect the epic scope of the poem. The final movement, 'Grottasöngr', is based on a poem from the Saga of King Olaf Tryggvason. The poem tells the story of a sorceress who sings a magical song that causes the sun to set and the world to be plunged into darkness. Leifs' setting of the poem is characterized by its use of eerie, otherworldly harmonies and its haunting melodies, which evoke the supernatural power of the sorceress's song. Overall, 'Old Scaldic Verses from Iceland, Op. 31' is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Leifs' unique style and his deep connection to the music and culture of Iceland.

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