Icelandic music

The singer Björk in 2007.

The music of Iceland comprises musical expressions made by people who are born and live on the European island of Iceland, or by nationals of that country elsewhere. The first records of musical production date from the year 1000. Currently, the singers Björk and Emilíana Torrini, the groups Sigur Rós, Of Monsters and Men, Múm and Seabear, and the composer Jóhann Jóhannsson are known internationally.

First references

The first musical references to Isla Iceland date from the year 1000, after the Christianization of the island. The old Edda was interpreted in a popular recitative. Catholic priests introduced the artistic interpretation of church songs, and after 1550 Protestant choral singing was practised. The execution of a choral melodic nucleus with paraphrased melismatics is characteristic, made up of children's songs and the so-called narrative dance, as well as heroic poems and great epics, the latter performed by epic singers, who in winter They moved from one court to another.

The organ practice (parallel fifths), today in the process of extinction, is a remarkable fact. This harmonic art was practiced only by men and is the only example of Icelandic polyphony. Folk instruments were the langspil, fretted (similar to the Norwegian langeleik bowed zither), and the fidula, both bowed.

20th century

During romanticism, an Icelandic cultured music originated, which has developed considerably during the 20th century, and tries to evolve from the Icelandic folkloric reality, but without losing the connection with the advances of contemporary music. In this sense, the contribution of the conductor and pianist of Russian origin, Vladimir Áshkenazi, has been important.

Pop and rock

Sigur Ros at concert.

Currently the singer Björk is known internationally. She was evolving from the age of 10 and made the music of Iceland known thanks to the group The Sugarcubes, a band that combined pop with rock and punk. After the band broke up, Björk continued her musical career as a solo artist. Icelandic music also includes Sigur Rós, one of the world's leading experimental post rock and alternative rock bands.

According to the Icelandic label Record Records, Of Monsters and Men is the best known group since Björk and Sigur Rós. His album My Head Is an Animal, and the single "Little Talks" reached high charts around the world. In 2013 they won the European Border Breakers Awards. In 2014 Ásgeir Trausti did the same, which has opened the doors of markets in the United States and Europe. The singer and composer Emiliana Torrini is also a renowned artist. Her song "Jungle Drum" from the 2008 album Me and Armini was number one in Germany, Austria, Belgium and Iceland. Her last album Tookah , from 2013, entered the top 50 in several countries.

Other internationally recognized artists include the electropop group FM Belfast, as well as the singer-songwriters Sóley and Sin Fang, who are the founders of the group Seabear.

Alternative, metal and techno

The metal band Solstafir is widely known internationally. Their first album, Í Blóði og Anda, was released in 2002 on the Ars Metalli label, but the record company that released it went bankrupt soon after. They have released two more studio albums, Masterpiece of Bitterness and Köld. The instrumental post rock and alternative rock band For a Minor Reflection has been widely known since they accompanied Sigur Rós on tour in 2009. The techno group house GusGus has released nine studio albums, the last one entitled Mexiko and published in June 2014.

21st century

In 2011, the Harpa building in Reykjavik, which houses the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, opened.

Iceland has participated every year in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1986. Despite never having won the contest, it is one of the countries that most faithfully follows the festival, reaching screen shares of practically 100% follow-up Iceland was ranked second in 1999 with Selma Björnsdóttir and in 2009 with Yohanna. Some of the most popular singers and bands in the country have participated in the festival, such as Jonsi, Hatari or Daði Freyr. Icelandic public television organizes the Söngvakeppnin festival every year, made up of several semifinals and a final, to choose its representative.

In 2021 Netflix released the film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga partially shot in Iceland and whose plot consists of the country's participation in the festival. Its title track garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song ("Husavik"), making it the first song with Icelandic lyrics to be nominated for the american film academy