Jón Nordal

f. 1926, d. 2024

 

Jón Nordal was one of Iceland’s most significant composers of the 20th century and the early part of the 21st century. In addition to being a highly prolific composer, he was a strong advocate for contemporary music in Iceland and one of the most influential figures in Icelandic music education.

Jón Nordal’s creative career spanned nearly 70 years, and his works are diverse in form and style. His catalogue includes orchestral works and solo concertos, chamber music and organ works, choral compositions, theatre music, and more. Among his well-known works are the orchestral piece Choralis, commissioned by Mstislav Rostropovich for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington (1982); Leiðsla, commissioned by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway (1973); Adagio for flute, harp, piano and strings, commissioned by Bohdan Wodiczko for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (1966); Óttusöngvar að vori (Matins in Spring) for soprano, countertenor, cello, percussion and organ (1993); and a Piano Concerto, which the composer himself premiered with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (1956). Nordal also composed songs that hold a special place among the Icelandic people, including Hvert örstutt spor to a poem by Halldór Laxness and the choral piece Smávinir fagrir to a poem by Jónas Hallgrímsson, which he composed at only 14 years of age.

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Jón Nordal served as principal of the Reykjavík College of Music for 33 years. At the time, the school was the country’s highest institution of music education and laid the foundation for the development of Icelandic musical life through the training of professional musicians, instrumental teachers, and music educators. Nordal was also one of the founders and the first chairman of Musica Nova in 1959, an association of musicians dedicated to the performance of contemporary music in Iceland.

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Jón Nordal was born on 6 March 1926 and passed away on 5 December 2024 at the age of 98.