Árbók Landsbókasafns Íslands - Nýr flokkur - 01.01.1991, Page 146

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ENGLISH SUMMARY
on his musical knowledge. He joined a brass band at the age of 13, and having
learnt to play the trumpet and several other instruments, he made a decision in
1925 to devote his life to music. The next two years he studied in Copenhagen,
and on his return to Iceland he earned a living as a musician, mainly in Reykjavík.
His work with Icelandic brass bands is well known, he played in various bands and
orchestras, including the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and taught in the
Reykjavík School of Music from 1939-64. In spite of this busy life he managed to
become a productive composer of considerable scope. His works include choral
and orchestral works, chamber music, popular songs and music written for brass
bands. A catalogue of the papers, mostly musical manuscripts, of Karl O.
Runólfsson now in the Department of Manuscripts in the National Library of
Iceland is printed on pp. 30-35. A more detailed version of the catalogue, also
compiled by Mr Jón Þórarinsson, accompanies his works in the Department of
Manuscripts.
Hörður Ágústsson: Þrenn hurðarjárn. Landsbókasafn íslands. Árbók. Nýr flokkur
15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 36-42.
Three sets of iron hinges owned by the National Museum of Iceland are
mounted on doors in the Safnahús, on the floor formerly occupied by the
National Museum but now used by the National Library. All are important
cultural relics. The first set consists of three long hinges (only two of which are
mounted in the Safnahús). They come from the church door of the old church in
Laufás, North Iceland. It is suggested that they may be the oldest Icelandic door-
hinges that have survived, possibly from the 12th century. Their function may
have been purely ornamental; at least the knuckles are missing now. The second
set consists of two hinges from Skálholt, possibly from one of the doors of the
cathedral built in Bishop Brynjólfur Sveinsson’s time; if so, they may be 293—340
years old. Finally, there is a single hinge from Svefneyjar, West Iceland, made by
Eggert Ólafsson, a farmer and fisherman, in the late 18th century. It makes a pair
with a copy made in 1908.
Stefán Karlsson: Brot úr barnaprédikunum í þýðingu Odds Gottskálkssonar.
Landsbókasafn íslands. Árbók. Nýrflokkur 15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 43—72.
A summary in German is on pp. 70-72.
Wawn, Andrew: The Assistance of Icelanders to George Webbe Dasent.
Landsbókasafn íslands. Árbók. Nýr flokkur 15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 73—92.
A summary in Icelandic is on pp. 91-92.
Ólafur Pálmason: Páll Jónsson og bókasafn hans. Landsbókasafn Islands. Árbók.
Nýrflokkur 15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 93-103.
An unusual number of great book-collectors have flourished in Iceland during
the last sixty years or so, and their efforts are proving to be of inestimable value.
One of the finest private collections of Icelandic books was built by Mr Páll