strengur by Halla Steinunn
strengur is a set of five groups of three pieces, each group created in deep collaboration with a long-term creative partner. For the project, I asked each collaborator if they were willing to explore modulating the traditional roles of performer and composer, by performing a score created by my gut strings—the very same technology they had to consider as they in parallel composed a separate set of written solo works for me. Much to my gratitude they graciously accepted the invite, and the journey began. As often with long creative processes, the project took unexpected twists and turns and so, what started off as a wish to collaborate differently, ended up as a deep and personal journey mediated by these longstanding creative relationships.
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Performer, composer, curator Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir is one of Iceland’s leading figures within the contemporary music scene. She has been the artistic director of Nordic Affect since its inception in 2005. Halla Steinunn’s work has been a tour de force when it comes to work with composers, visual artists, and producers. She is driven by an ecosystemic outlook on creation, set to further explore its world making possibilities through music's many mediated relationships.
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Tracklist
Videos
Credits
1. 'Hölluþula' for solo baroque violin, voice and electronics.
Written and produced by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Peformed by Halla Lovísa Loftsdóttir, Nguyễn Thanh Thủy and Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
2. 'strengur' for scordatura baroque violin (baroque setup), aeolian violin, gut string and drum.
Written, performed and produced by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
3. 'hvinskyn' for electronics.
Written and produced by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Peformed by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir, Halla Lovísa Loftsdóttir, Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, Árný Inga Pálsdóttir.
Artificial intelligence production by Davíð Brynjar Franzson.
4. 'violin fragments' for solo baroque violin, 20 artificial intelligence voices and live electronics.
Written and produced by Davíð Brynjar Franzson.
Performed by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
5. 'strengur' for live electronics.
Written by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Performed and produced by Davíð Brynjar Franzson.
6. 'strengur, fragments' for live electronics.
Written, performed and produced by Davíð Brynjar Franzson.
7. 'Departure of a Leaf' for solo baroque violin, voice and electronics.
Written by Lương Huệ Trinh.
Performed by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Produced by Lương Huệ Trinh. Editing and Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
8. 'strengur' for live electronics. Written by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir. Performed and produced by Lương Huệ Trinh. strengur-visuals titled 'Packed memories' by Lương Huệ Trinh.
9.'Thinh không (Ether)' for live electronics.
Written, performed and produced by Lương Huệ Trinh. The work is dedicated to Emmanuel Labrande.
10. 'Violin with Þytur' for solo baroque violin and electronics.
Written by Kent Olofsson (violin score) and Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir (electronics).
Performed by Maja Jantar (voice), Angela Rawlings (voice) and Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir (violin, voice).
Produced by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
11. 'strengur' for live electronics.
Written by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Performed and produced by Kent Olofsson.
12. 'strengur Zona' for electronics.
Written and produced by Kent Olofsson.
13. 'In the Bottomless Hollow of the Winter Sky' for solo baroque violin and electronics.
Written by Mirjam Tally.
Performed by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Produced by Mirjam Tally and Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
14. 'strengur' for electronics. Written by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir. Performed and produced by Mirjam Tally. strengur-visuals by Mirjam Tally.
15. 'Frost', electroacoustic work. Written and produced by Mirjam Tally. Performed by Mirjam Tally, Matilda Andersson, Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir and Anna Petrini.
Halla plays a David Hopf violin from around 1780 in baroque setup by Matthieu Besseling. Bow by anonymous.
Solo part of works 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 13 recorded at Inter Arts Center studios, Sweden by Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.
Final mix and mastering by Valgeir Sigurðsson at Greenhouse Studios.
Special thanks:
Recording fund of STEF, Iceland. The Icelandic Ministry of Culture’s Music Fund. Robert Svensson, Árný Inga Pálsdóttir, Stefan Östersjö, Maja Jantar, Angela Rawlings, Jörgen Dahlqvist, Margot Edström, Hrafn Stefánsson, Ingólfur Björn Sigurðsson, Sólveig Ýr Sigurgeirsdóttir, Andy Brydon, Ágústa Thorarinsdóttir, Creative Europe, The Árni Magnússon Institute.
Photos: Halla Steinunn Stefánsdóttir Graphic Design: Guðlaug Friðgeirsdóttir
