Árdís - 01.01.1950, Síða 33

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
31
has Iceland’s first symphony orchestra been organized. Until
now there has not been a sufficient number of well trained players,
nor have they been able to devote much time to it. On this last
December 8th they played their first concert. On the program
were: Mendelssohn’s Fingall’s Cave Overture; Chopin’s Concerto
in E Major; and Haydn’s Opus No. 94. The conductor is Dr. Páll
Isólfsson a leading musician as composer, conductor and teacher.
He directs the Cathedral Choir. I will mention a few outstanding
musicians from the past and present. Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson,
who studied in Scotland, Denmark and Germany. He composed
many vocal solos and compiled a collection of Folk Songs. His
Hymn of Praise which is Iceland’s national anthem is one of his
best known.
Bjarni Thorsteinsson and Sigfús Einarsson both compiled hymn
books, the former’s being most widely in use in the churches.
Sigfús Einarsson also composed many beautiful songs, one of his
most popular ones being the “Dreamland” (Draumalandið).
Jonas Helgason may be named as one of the pioneers in the
íield of music. He composed a number of songs and compiled books
of songs of other countries.
Björgvin Gudmundsson spent some years in Canada and later
studied at the Royal Academy in England. He is now in Akureyri,
Iceland where we met him, engaged in teaching and composing.
There are many more and time does not permit me to name them
all, however my report would be most incomplete were I to leave
out Iceland’s most beloved composer of recent times, whose
complete works are only recently published. He is Dr. Sigvaldi
Kaldalóns who died in 1946. He was a successful medical practitioner
but devoted all his spare time to music. Undoubtedly he leaves
a larger number of compositions than any Icelandic composer
up to this time. Many of them are solos with lovely accompani-
ments. He took his themes for his compositions from the barren
landscape of his community, from the hurricanes and the surf on
the seashore. He stilled his harp to every passing emotion and to
every inspiration of the moment. He found sweet or sorrowful
melodies everywhere; in flowers, the seasons, the voices of nature
and the lives of his fellowmen; their sorrows and their triumphs.
His music reflects the moods, hopes and aspirations of his nation
íor a thousand years.