Duo Concordia - Concordia [CD]

Duo Concordia is made up of Icelandic musicians Laufey Siguroardottir (violin) and Pall Eyjolfsson (guitar), who have performed together for years, establishing an appealing rapport both with one another and with the composers with whom they regularly collaborate. This release features Icelandic contemporary music composed specifically for the duo, and for each performer as soloist. Icelandic contemporary music has come into focus in recent years, with composers such as Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Academy Award-winner Hildur Guonadottir drawing the world's attention towards this country's rich musical culture. With this recording, Duo Concordia shines the spotlight on a number of other Icelandic trailblazers, including Magnus Blondal Johannsson, the first Icelandic composer to introduce electronics into his scores. Hilmar Thordarson is a pioneer of electronic techniques, but also draws upon ancient Norse sources for inspiration. The release also features music by English composer John A. Speight, a student of Richard Rodney Bennett. We hear 'Samtvinna', composed for the duo in 2013, and Speight's retelling of the Opheus myth, the haunting and colourful solo guitar piece 'Echoes of Orpheus', premiered by Pall Eyjolfsson soon after it was composed.