Recensione musica | Opere di Jóhann Jóhannsson

Profilo

Jóhann Jóhannsson è un compositore islandese, un pioniere e uno dei musicisti più rappresentativi dell’attuale scena post-classica. Ha prodotto molte opere da solista e musiche per il cinema, l’opera teatrale, la danza e la televisione a partire dall’inizio degli anni Novanta.

Le sue caratteristiche sono il gusto classico, anche islandese ed europeo, della composizione e dell’armonia, e la miscela di strumenti classici, sintetizzatori e tecnologie elettroniche.

Album solisti

Orphée (Deutsche Grammophon, 2016)

“Orphée” è un album in studio completo di Jóhann Jóhannsson pubblicato nel 2016. Le canzoni sono ispirate a “Orphée” diretto da Jean-Cocteau. Ogni canzone è breve. Vari stili di composizioni e arrangiamenti. La miscela del suono di strumenti classici ed elettronici.

“Flight from the City” è una canzone sentimentale con archi, pianoforte e glockenspiel, minimale, con ripetizioni di una frase.

“The Drowned World” è un arpeggio di glockenspiel, sequenze di sintetizzatore e archi in miniatura minimalista.

“A Pile of Dust” è un brano astratto e serio per ensemble di archi a tonalità lunga.

“By the Roes, and by the Hinds of the Field” è un brano malinconico per pianoforte e archi. Segue un’acuta riflessione di pianoforte e pad di sintetizzatore.

“The Radiant City” è una canzone sentimentale e dolorosa con archi, pianoforte, rumori e voci, che associa le opere di Ryuichi Sakamoto.

“The Burning Mountain” è un’apatica canzone per solo organo.

“De Luce et Umbra” è un’appassionata composizione per ensemble d’archi.

“Good Morning, Midnight”, la prima parte è un loop di riflessione del pianoforte e una traccia vaga di archi, mentre la parte successiva è un pezzo minimalista di pianoforte solo.

“Good Night, Day” è un brano minimale e significativo per ensemble d’archi con un impressionante assolo di violoncello.

“Orphic Hymn” è un brano mistico e sacro, classico ed etnico islandese, eseguito da un coro classico.

Elegia per il tempo perso (UMG Recordings, 2023)

“Elegy for Lost Time” è un album di pianoforte e orchestra d’archi di stampo classico e post-classico. In alcuni brani sono stati aggiunti effetti, sintetizzatori e alcuni strumenti come oboe, clarinetto e glockenspiel.

“Jói & Karen” è una canzone per pianoforte e orchestra d’archi. Ma il tono è molto scarso. Fa un buon uso degli intervalli e dello spazio.

“Jóhannsson: A Sparrow Alighted upon our Shoulder” è un brano minimale con orchestra d’archi.

L’ultima traccia, “Jóhannsson: Flight from the City” è un brano lento, luminoso e appassionato, con pianoforte e orchestra d’archi. La migliore canzone di questo album.

Risorse e collegamenti

Jóhann Jóhannsson (official site)

Bandcamp

Deutsche Grammophon – Jóhann Jóhannsson

Wikipedia (EN)

Pitchfork

Barbican

uDiscoverMusic

Discogs

AllMusic

MUBI

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Music Review | Works of Jóhann Jóhannsson

Profile

Jóhann Jóhannsson is an Icelandic composer, a pioneer and one of representative musician in today’s Post-classical scene. He produced many solo works and music for cinema, play, dance and television from the beginning of 00’s.

His characteristics is Classical also Icelandic and European taste of composition and harmonie, and the mixture of Classical instruments, sythesizers and electronic technologies.

Solo Albums

Orphée (Deutsche Grammophon, 2016)

“Orphée” is a full-length studio album by Jóhann Jóhannsson released in 2016. The songs are inspired by “Orphée” directed by Jean-Cocteau. Each song is short. Various styles of compostions and arrangements. The mixture of the sound of Classical and electronic instruments.

“Flight from the City” is a sentimental strings, piano and glockenspiel Minimal song of repetitions of a phrase.

“The Drowned World” is a glockenspiel arpeggios, synthesizer sequences and strings Minimal miniature.

“A Pile of Dust” is an abstract and serious long-tone string ensemble song.

“By the Roes, and by the Hinds of the Field” is a melancholic piano and strings song. Keen reflection of piano and synthesizer pads follows.

“The Radiant City” is a sentimental and sorrowful song with strings, piano, noises and voices, which associates works of Ryuichi Sakamoto.

“The Burning Mountain” is an apathetic organ solo song.

“De Luce et Umbra” is a passionate string ensemble compositions.

“Good Morning, Midnight”, the former part is piano reflection loop and strings vague track, the later part is a Minimal piano solo piece.

“Good Night, Day” is a Minimal and significant string ensemble song with an impressive cello solo.

“Orphic Hymn” is a mystic and sacred, Classical and Iceland ethnic human song by Classical chorus.

Elegy for Lost Time (UMG Recordings, 2023)

“Elegy for Lost Time” is a Classical and serious Post-classical piano and string orchestra album. Some tracks are added effects, synthesizers and some instruments such as oboe, clarinet and glockenspiel.

“Jói & Karen” is a piano with string ensemble song. But the tone is very few. It make good use of intervals and space.

“Jóhannsson: A Sparrow Alighted upon our Shoulder” is an impressive string orchestra minimal song.

The last track, “Jóhannsson: Flight from the City” is a slow also bright, and passionate solo sorrowful piano and string orchestra song. The best song of this album.

Resources and Links

Jóhann Jóhannsson (official site)

Bandcamp

Deutsche Grammophon – Jóhann Jóhannsson

Wikipedia (EN)

Pitchfork

Barbican

uDiscoverMusic

Discogs

AllMusic

MUBI

Facebook Page

X (former Twitter)

Instagram

List of All Music Reviews
Post-classical, New Age, Ambient, Minimal Music, Electronica
(English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano)

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Music Review | Works of Hildur Guðnadóttir

Profile

Hildur Guðnadóttir is composer and cello player from Iceland.

Solo Albums

Mount A (12 Tónar, 2006)

“Mount A” is the debut album and a Contemporary Classical album by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Basically the music is contemporary and experimental string ensemble songs, and some songs includes guitar, piano, vibraphone and synthesizer pad parts. Also it owns elements of Minimal Music, Ambient and Expressionist Music.

Without Sinking (Touch, 2009)

“Without Sinking” is the second album of Hildur Guðnadóttir. And, it’s a Post-classical, experimental strings album. Jóhann Jóhannsson as organ and Skúli Sverrisson as bass take part in this album.

“Elevation” is a song of long tone abstract strings song. As the title, this song begun from low tones, and progresses high tone.

“Everything Light” is an arpeggio based Minimal strings song. Each string instrument crosses dynamically.

“Circular” is a composition is consist of long tone chords strings.

“Ascent” is a string quartet song like baroque music and Minimal Music. A cello plays a bass part, 3 parts cross and form harmonies in repeating phrases.

“Opaque” is a dynamique and agressive string ensemble song. I feel her anger.

“Aether” is a Folk taste also abstract, guitar and small orchestra ensemble song.

“Into Warmer Air” is a Minimal Music string ensemble song. It begins by phrases repetitions of a contra bass, and cello(s), viola(s) then violin(s) follow and the harmonies of song become bright from gloomy harmonies.

“Unveiled” is an abstract and obscure song by some string instruments. The end they make clear phrases and harmonies.

Saman (Touch, 2014)

“Saman” is a Post-classical album features cello solos of Guðnadóttir and string ensemble.

“Strokur” is a simple and serious composition of string ensemble features Guðnadóttir’s cello solo.

“Frá” is a sacred song of chorus with modulated distorted stings.

“Birting” is minimal and slow composition for strings.

“Heyr Himnasmiður” is Icelandish or Scottish taste song features female vocal with string accompaniment.

“Bær” is a significant and melancholic strings song.

“Heima” is Folk taste guitar arpeggio based vocal song. The vocal style like a whisper is impressive.

“Í Hring” is a short miserable, sad and serious piece like the Second Viennese School.

“Rennur Upp” is serious strings composition with faint muted piano arpeggios. The best song of this album.

“Líður” is Folk and Christian Anthem taste vocal song with fragmental piano. Later part, strings accompaniment follow.

“Torrek” is a short serious strings piece features cello solo of Guðnadóttir.

“Þoka” is experimental and gloomy music of modulated string instruments and their reflections and noises.

I feel the theme of album is intervals, stillness and silence. You might be satisfied with Guðnadóttir’s cello plays and her iconic style composition and strings arrangement.

Resources and Links

Hildur Guðnadóttir (official site)

Wikipedia (EN)

Deutsche Grammophon – Hildur Guðnadóttir

Touch – Hildur Guðnadóttir

Pitchfork – Hildur Guðnadóttir

Wise Music Classical

SHARE+ – Hildur Guðnadóttir

MUBI

Discogs

AllMusic

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List of All Music Reviews
Post-classical, New Age, Ambient, Minimal Music, Electronica
(English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano)

Jean-Michel Serres Apfel Café Music QR Codes Center English 2024.