Christopher Kaufman's
'ICELAND' ('Eeslahnd')
         

ICELAND (‘Eeslahnd’) - for Narrator and Orchestra
                                                                                      Listen to DEMOS - Below
ICELAND tells a story.

“Imagine a vast tapestry adorning the wall of an ancient stone castle. Dominating is the depiction of a massive volcanic mountain with a fiery crest. Along the leftward sward ancient Icelanders sit before a glowing form. It is Sibyl the Seeress - she describes the Dawn of Creation. Black birds flock above the titanic peak as lava flows along the rightward flank of the mountain reaching to the sea. Here one sees a misty white beach with ancient mariners provisioning a ship with a dragon- head prow for a long voyage. A large figure sports a shock of bright red hair. Footsteps in the sand trail downward along the shoreline - a blond-haired man stares transfixed at a mermaid formed of mist and shells. The remainder of the tapestry is dominated by the mighty ocean. Mythological forms and terrible creatures inhabit the dark waters. Along the sea-bottom you can see the giant Sea God, Aegir, in his glistening palace of crystalline splendor - a violent tempest rages above. The brave ship is depicted sailing through the rough waters. Further on the Viking warriors are in battle from the deck of their ship with the giant sea serpent, Iormungander who has risen to dispute their progress. At the far right is a beautiful Island sporting halos of light and verdant lands. A new earth has risen from the storms of the sea. The travelers disembark, having reached Vinland and their journey’s end.”

This is the vision that ICELAND expresses. Through 12 narrated poems, including an original and pivotal poem titled ‘Embarkation’ written for this work by Icelandic Poet Bill Holm, ICELAND is like a landscape painting of Iceland, it tells the story of the ancient mariners, expresses the mythological story of the Ragnarock and, like many myths of the world, is ultimately a symbolic narrative for each listener’s personal life journey.

'Eeslahnd' is dedicated to the memory
of Bill Holm ('43-'09) - Icelandic Poet.

He wrote an orignal poem for this work
- 'Embarkation' (6) - and Narrated the
World Premier in Marshall Minnesota.

New Music Champion Daniel Rieppel
C ommissioned this work in 2001. He
and the Poet were Great Friends.        

1] ‘At the Dawn of Ages’ - (Sibyl’s Prophesy from the Voluspa)
Here the words of ‘Sibyl the Seer’ tell of the creation.               
Score Pages                                                   


2] ‘Ode to Iceland’ - Hannes Petursson                 
       The profound beauty of the Island.                     
Score Pages                                      
      

3] ‘The Glacier Trembled’ - ‘Mount Skaldbriedur’ - Jonas Hallgrimsson
A volcanic eruption is depicted.
                 Score Pages

9] ‘Iormungandr’ - ‘Thor’s Fishing’
Oehlenschlager and ‘The Midgard Serpent’
Valhalla - J.C. Jones
Having survived the Tempest, the Vikings
must now battle the mighty sea serpent.
The beast returns to ‘his watery home’
at the brave ‘clashing of their shields’.
                       Score Pages

10] ‘New Earth’ - ‘Baldor Dead’
- Mathew Arnold                    
The Icelanders reach their goal  
and inhabit a land of peace.      
Score Pages                

ICELAND was commissioned in 2001 and premiered in November of that year by the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Rieppel - who commissioned the work. Icelandic Poet, Bill Holm, who also contributed an original poem ('Embarkation') narrated these premier performances. In 2006 ICELAND was completely recomposed and again in the Spring of 2011. The first demo below, 'The Sea God', was created from sketches from this most recent period of work and is a purely orchestral track which the composer sells independently from his store 'Chris Kaufman's Sonic Emporium' and is part of his recent release 'Digital Opus One' found on itunes and many other on-line stores world-wide. The remaining demos are from the 2006 work period and give a good idea of how this music sounds. These recordings feature the composer's narration.