Transcript Olafur Arnalds: Brim

OLAFUR ARNALDS: BRIM
Taylor Sparks
WHY BRIM?
• I really enjoy the sound of strings as well as electronic beats. Arnalds
combined the two seamlessly with percussion from the piano. Brim, is a
polyphonic piece, the texture is beautiful. Throughout the piece, the
instruments leave and reenter. It’s a buildup to the climax of the piece.
OLAFUR ARNALDS
• He was born in 1986 in Iceland. He is a modern day, 21st century composer. Arnalds
“explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano
with discreet electronics” (http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/olafurarnalds/biography/).
• He writes music for strings and piano mostly. Having choreographed to his music
before, I believe his element of texture connects strongly with movement. It allows
for more diverse movement.
• Alvin Ailey Dance Company is using “Endalaus II” by Olafur Arnalds from the album
Two Songs for Dance and “Frysta” by Olafur Arnalds from the album Living Room
Songs in their new work this year entitled “Something Tangible”. His works have also
been used on the show “So You Think You Can Dance”. Travis Wall Choreographed
a piece to “Brotsjor” from the album Dyad 1909.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijm0LuC-RRA)
• His album “ For now I am Winter” has been the most popular.
• Funfact: He was a drummer for hardcore and metal bands ‘Fighting Shit’ and
‘Celestine’. He also toured with Sigur Ros
JOHNNY GREENWOOD
• He was born in 1971 in Oxford, England. He began working in the late 20th
century, 1990’s.
• Greenwood’s music genre branches from electronica to rock to classical.
He is most known for his career with Radiohead as lead guitarist and
keyboardist.
• Sigur Ros and Radiohead collaborated for the Merce Cunningham dance
piece ‘Split Sides’. (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8zcj3_split-sidesfeat-music-by-radiohea_creation)
• Rated number 48 out of the 100 greatest Guitarists by Rolling Stone. "Creep,"
"Paranoid Android," "My Iron Lung” are his important works.
• Funfact: Greenwood has an album with Poland’s greatest composer,
Krzysztof Pendericki.
KRZYSZTOF PENDERICKI
• Pendericki was born in 1933 in Poland. The atmosphere of World War 2
Influenced his music as well as the Jewish religion.
• He is known for his choral and orchestral music as well as opera and
chamber music. He is considered a neoclassical/ Avant Garde composer.
• Personally, he studied piano and violin. However, he creates works for big
orchestras.
• The Stuttgart Ballet used Pendericki’s Polymorphia piece for their ballet
Krabat.
• “Among his many symphonies, operas, orchestral pieces and concertos,
‘Polish Requiem’ and ‘Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima’ are most
famous.” (http://www.theculturetrip.com/europe/poland/articles/krzysztofpenderecki-poland-s-greatest-living-composer-/)
IGOR STRAVINSKY
• Stravinsky was born in 1882 in Russia. He is considered one of the most
influential composers of the 20th century.
• Igor was a pianist however, most of his works are for big orchestras.
• He worked very closely with Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes.
• Stravinsky composed choral, classical, and neoclassical works. As well as
chamber music and many works for ballets.
• Stravinsky established his reputation with three groundbreaking ballets:
L'oiseau de feu, Petrushka, and Le Sacre du printemps (Rite of Spring).
CONNECTIONS
• Arnalds, Greenwood, and Pendericki have all collaborated or at least worked with
the same people in their careers.
• All four of these composers use and play a string instrument and/or the piano. They
all appreciate the sound these instruments make. It is clear in their compositions
• These four men are known for not doing the norm. They have all stepped outside of
the box and create a very unique sound.
• From Stravinsky beginning the neoclassical sound to Arnalds creating a pop-classical
sound.
• These composers compose music that take the listener on a rollercoaster. None of
their music is flat. They compose climaxes in their piece. Their music is very dynamic.
• I know have a better understanding of how these composers connect.
LISTENING TO ARNALDS
• Arnalds lineage sets him up to be a success. There is no one like Stravinsky,
Pendericki, or Greenwood. He was “raised” to be the best.
• Greenwood influences his rock/electronic background.
• Pendericki was influenced a lot by his environment and what was going
around in his hometown. Just as Arnalds music is influenced by Iceland
• Stravinsky gives him the uniqueness. How to transmit classical music to
something else.