Nordal, Jón

Nordal, Jón, Icelandic composer; b. Reykjavik, March 6, 1926. He studied with Kristjánsson and Thórarinsson at the Reykjavik Coll. of Music, then in Zürich with Burkhard (1949–51), and finally in Paris and Rome (1956–57) and in Darmstadt (1957). He taught at the Reykjavik Coll. of Music before becoming its director in 1959. In 1968 he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy. His early works are in the neo-Classical mold, but in the course of time he adopted colorism in the French impressionist vein.

Works

orch.:Concerto Grosso (1950); Concerto (1954); Sinfonietta seriosa (1954); Piano Concerto (1957); Brotaspil (A Play of Fragments; 1963); Adagio for Flute, Harp, Piano, and Strings (1965); Stiklur (1969); Canto elegiaco for Cello and Orch. (1971); Leidsla (Rapture; 1973); Epitafion (1974); Langnaetti (The Winter Night; 1976); Tvisong (Twinsong), double concerto for Violin, Viola, and Orch. (1979); Tileinkun (Dedication; 1981); Choralis (Washington, D.C., Nov. 23, 1982); Cello Concerto (1983). chamber: Violin Sonata (1952); Rórill for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bass Clarinet; Duo for Violin and Cello (1983); Carvings for Clarinet and Piano (1985); Piccolo musica notturna for Viola and Piano (1995); Fra Draumi til Draums for String Quartet (1996); Andad á Sofinn Streng for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1998); organ music. vocal: Choral pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire