Jon Leifs CotW 9th to 13th December 2013

[Bryn]

At last. Those who only know his work from Hekla or Geysir might be surprised at the breadth of his work.

[Oops, posted in haste. Not just Jon Leifs, but other Icelandic music too.]

[ardcarp]

Donald sounds as if he's having a whale of a time out there. I assume the Beeb paid his air fare. He's obviously practised his Icelandic accent too. Glad to be introduced to Leifs.

[Serial_Apologist]

Donald sounds as if he's having a whale of a time out there. I assume the Beeb paid his air fare. He's obviously practised his Icelandic accent too. Glad to be introduced to Leifs.

Leifs' music is new to me; does anybody on here actually like it - be honest? I suppose one way to keep warm in a place like Iceland is to write a lot of very macho bombastic music!

[ardcarp]

Was the organ concert on yesterday's programme by Leifs? (Can't find a playlist.) It was all huge climaxes and faux endings! Probably an impressive sound heard in the flesh, so to speak.

[Bryn]

Was the organ concert on yesterday's programme by Leifs? (Can't find a playlist.) It was all huge climaxes and faux endings! Probably an impressive sound heard in the flesh, so to speak.

Yes it was, and in answer to S_A, I do. A favourite is Part 1 of Edda. Eagerly awaiting Part 2 which Robert von Bahr has advised he intends to record in due course.

[Serial_Apologist]

Phew - well that's over then - what a re-Leifs! I was reminded of Stravinsky's comment on hearing Messiaen's "Turangalila" - asking if its composer was jealous of the supersonic bang and suggesting it be re-titled "L'Apres-Midi D'un Super-Faun"!

[Bryn]

Phew - well that's over then - what a re-Leifs! I was reminded of Stravinsky's comment on hearing Messiaen's "Turangalila" - asking if its composer was jealous of the supersonic bang and suggesting it be re-titled "L'Apres-Midi D'un Super-Faun"!

Hmm, a comment just about as well observed as Stravinsky's, what?

[Bryn]

I note that Ilan Volkov with be including Jón Leifs's Landsýn and Hafís in a concert given in the Harpa, Reykjavík, next June. I wonder if he will also bring them to next summer's Proms, with the BBCSSO, rather than the ISO?