Finnur Bjarnason & Orn Magnusson - Leifs: Complete Songs (2016)

Something of a cult figure, Jon Leifs is especially known for spectacular orchestral works often inspired by the natural phenomena of his native Iceland such as volcanoes (Hekla) or waterfalls (Dettifoss) or the great Icelandic sagas (Saga Symphony, and the large-scale, unfinished Edda oratorio). But throughout a turbulent life, Leifs also composed a number of solo songs all of which are gathered here. These 32 songs (including several folk song arrange­ments) often give unusually clear insights into the com­poser: more than Leifs work in any other genre, his song writing was often inspired by deeply personal events in his life, and consequently span a huge range of emotion and expression, from delicate lullabies to the most forceful of epic songs. This is brought out by Finnur Bjarnason and Orn Magnusson, both stalwart champions of the music by their compatriot in concert and on disc.

Tracklist:
01. Memorial Songs on the Death of Jonas Hallgrimsson, Op. 45 - No. 1. Homesickness
02. Memorial Songs on the Death of Jonas Hallgrimsson, Op. 45 - No. 2. Solstice
03. Memorial Songs on the Death of Jonas Hallgrimsson, Op. 45 - No. 3. Hearts Rise Up
04. Songs of the Saga Symphony, Op. 25 - No. 1. Skarphe?inn’s Song When Burning
05. Songs of the Saga Symphony, Op. 25 - No. 2. Exhortations to the Farmhands
06. Songs of the Saga Symphony, Op. 25 - No. 3. ?ormo?ur's Death Song
07. 2 Icelandic Folksongs, Op. 19b - No. 1. Slumber Dearest Child of Mine
08. 2 Icelandic Folksongs, Op. 19b - No. 2. Fjord of a Thousand Isla
09. 2 Songs, Op. 18a - No. 1. Good Night
10. 2 Songs, Op. 18a - No. 2. Rhyme
11. 3 Verses from Havamal, Op. 4 - No. 1. A King's Child
12. 3 Verses from Havamal, Op. 4 - No. 2. I Was Young
13. 3 Verses from Havamal, Op. 4 - No. 3. Beasts Die
14. Stand, House of Stone, Op. 47a
15. 2 Songs, Op. 14a - No. 1. The Moon Glides
16. 2 Songs, Op. 14a - No. 2. Lullaby
17. 3 Songs from Icelandic Sagas, Op. 24 - No. 1. My Mother Wants a Price Paid
18. 3 Songs from Icelandic Sagas, Op. 24 - No. 2. Love Poems to Steingerur
19. 3 Songs from Icelandic Sagas, Op. 24 - No. 3. Gunnar’s Verse from His Mound
20. 3 Songs, Op. 23 - No. 1. verse
21. 3 Songs, Op. 23 - No. 2. Dance of the Spectres
22. 3 Songs, Op. 23 - No. 3. Spring Poem
23. 3 Patriotic Songs, Op. 27: No. 3. Memory-land (version for voice and piano)
24. Love Verses from the Edda, Op. 18b - No. 1. Long Is One Night
25. Love Verses from the Edda, Op. 18b - No. 2. In the Courts of Gymir
26. Old Scaldic Verses from Iceland, Op. 31 - No. 1. Up on the Keel You Shall Climb
27. Old Scaldic Verses from Iceland, Op. 31 - No. 2. Seafaring Verse
28. Old Scaldic Verses from Iceland, Op. 31 - No. 3. The Words of the Raven
29. 3 Icelandic Hymns), Op. 12a - No. 1. Father Above
30. 3 Icelandic Hymns), Op. 12a - No. 2. Behold the Flower
31. 3 Icelandic Hymns), Op. 12a - No. 3. Arise My Sou
32. Torrek, Op. 33a