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, 21 st century composer. Arnalds “explores the crossover from classical to pop by mixing chamber strings and piano with discreet electronics” ( arnalds/biography/). arnalds/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 ( 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 20 th 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’. ( feat-music-by-radiohea_creation) feat-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.” ( penderecki-poland-s-greatest-living-composer-/) penderecki-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 20 th 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.