musicAddicted

Daníel Bjarnason, Icelandic composer and conductor, released one of the most impressive contemporary classical albums last year (musicAddicted’s second favourite album; also read my Slovak review). Processions is not only staggering and subduing collection of two of his symphonic triptychs, but also defines direction where the classical scene should move at best. Bjarnason’s talents for evolving the emotions forward and his ear for nuance result in rich and complex textures that need all your attention to understand and digest. Few month ago, visual complement to the first part of Processions was premiered at Unsound Festival at Poland’s Krakow. Videos for Bow To String, three parts piece for solo cello, were filmed by Una Lorenzen, artist based in New York and Reykjavík. As she writes on her profile, the visuals are made from photographs and 16mm shots from Iceland, by Þorbjörg Jónsdóttir. Their warped and unclear nature excellently copies uneasiness and dynamics of Bjarnason’s music but doesn’t try to beat it. Don’t forget to watch another two parts, Blood To Bones and Air To Breath - it’s worth it.