Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Geyser Erupts

Episode 2 of 5

Donald Macleod experiences the vast sonic eruptions of the 'original' geyser at Geysir, Iceland and introduces works by Jon Leifs portraying his nation's unique landscape.

Donald Macleod experiences the vast sonic eruptions of the 'original' geyser at Geysir, Iceland - and introduces works by J贸n Leifs portraying his nation's unique landscape.

For more than a millennium, Iceland's composers have drawn upon the sounds of its unique geology: sounds created in a glacial, geothermal landscape like nowhere else on earth. Searing water explodes from fissures; the earth steams spongily underfoot; vast, electric-blue hunks of solid ice crack and collide as they bob down otherwise silent fjords. Yet Iceland's classical music tradition remains barely known. This week, Donald Macleod explores the landscapes and vistas of the world's most northerly island nation - to discover its unique musical culture.

J贸n Leifs' symphonic poem "Geysir" portrays the awe-inspiring geothermal eruption of one of his nation's most famous natural wonders. Donald Macleod pays a visit to Geysir to introduce Leifs' own highly-imaginative musical explosion, before discussing the composer's dramatic, experimental organ concerto - described by one critic as "like Bach walking on the tundra" - with the musicologist 脕rni Heimir Ing贸lfsson. He ends with a series of pieces by Icelandic music's provocateur-in-chief, the wickedly mischievous Atli Heimir Sveinsson - a composer able and willing to compose in almost any style, from Baroque to avant-garde to hip hop - ending with Sveinsson's bizarre and beguiling postmodernist fantasy, "Icelandic Rap".

J贸n Leifs: Geysir, Op 51
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Osmo V盲nsk盲 (conductor)

J贸n Leifs: Two Songs, Op 15
Igveldur Yr Jonsd贸ttir (mezzo)
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Anne Manson (conductor)

J贸n Leifs: Organ Concerto, Op 7
Bj枚rn Steinar S贸lbergsson (organ)
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, En Shao (conductor)

Atli Heimir Sveinsson: Intermezzo No 1 (Dimmalimm)
Benedikte Johansen (flute), Thomas Jensen (harp)

Atli Heimir Sveinsson: Af hreinu hjarta
Suzanne Kessel (piano)

Atli Heimir Sveinsson: Icerapp
Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, Bernhar冒ur Wilson (conductor).

1 hour

Last on

Tue 15 Dec 2015 18:30

Music Played

  • J贸n Leifs

    Geysir - Prelude Op 51

    Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: Osmo V盲nsk盲.
    • BIS: CD830BIS.
    • BIS.
    • 1.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Geysir Op.51

    Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo V盲nsk盲.
    • BIS: CD830BIS.
    • 1.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Geysir - Prelude Op 51

    Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: Osmo V盲nsk盲.
    • BIS: CD830BIS.
    • BIS.
    • 1.
  • J贸n Leifs

    2 Songs Op 15

    Singer: Ingveldur 脻r J贸nsd贸ttir. Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: Anne Manson.
    • BIS: CD1050.
    • BIS.
    • 2.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Two Songs, Op.15

    Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Anne Manson. Singer: Ingveldur 脻r J贸nsd贸ttir.
    • BIS CD1050.
    • 2-3.
  • J贸n Leifs

    2 Songs Op 15

    Singer: Ingveldur 脻r J贸nsd贸ttir. Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: Anne Manson.
    • BIS: CD1050.
    • BIS.
    • 2.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Concerto Op 7

    Performer: Bj枚rn Steinar S贸lbergsson. Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: En Shao.
    • BIS: CD930BIS.
    • BIS.
    • 1.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Organ Concerto, Op.7

    Performer: Bj枚rn Steinar S贸lbergsson. Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: En Shao.
    • BIS CD930.
    • 1.
  • J贸n Leifs

    Concerto Op 7

    Performer: Bj枚rn Steinar S贸lbergsson. Orchestra: Iceland S O. Conductor: En Shao.
    • BIS: CD930BIS.
    • BIS.
    • 1.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Dimmalimm - Intermezzo no 1

    Performer: Benedikte Johansen. Performer: Thomas Norup Jensen.
    • TALENT: TLN29.
    • TALENT.
    • 15.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Intermezzo no.1 from Dimmalimm

    Performer: Benedikte Johansen. Performer: Thomas Jensen.
    • TALENT TLN29.
    • 15.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Dimmalimm - Intermezzo no 1

    Performer: Benedikte Johansen. Performer: Thomas Norup Jensen.
    • TALENT: TLN29.
    • TALENT.
    • 15.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Af Hreinu Hjarta [with A Pure Heart]

    Performer: Susanne Kessel.
    • OEHMS: OC813.
    • OEHMS.
    • 6.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Af hreinu hjarta

    Performer: Susanne Kessel.
    • OEHMS OC813.
    • 6.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Af Hreinu Hjarta [with A Pure Heart]

    Performer: Susanne Kessel.
    • OEHMS: OC813.
    • OEHMS.
    • 6.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Icerapp [icelandic Rap]

    Orchestra: Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Bernhardur Wilson.
    • SMEKKLEYSA: SMK24.
    • SMEKKLEYSA.
    • 13.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Icerapp

    Orchestra: Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Bernharour Wilson.
    • SMEKKLEYSA SMK24.
    • 13.
  • Atli Heimir Sveinsson

    Icerapp [icelandic Rap]

    Orchestra: Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Bernhardur Wilson.
    • SMEKKLEYSA: SMK24.
    • SMEKKLEYSA.
    • 13.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 10 Dec 2013 12:00
  • Tue 10 Dec 2013 18:30
  • Tue 15 Dec 2015 12:00
  • Tue 15 Dec 2015 18:30

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

Beethoven Unleashed 鈥 the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time 鈥 why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.