Choral Works

'The music has calming a cappella air of "spiritual polyphony" - sometimes dreamily tuneful, sometimes bleak and eerie [...] Many of these small-scale pieces were commissioned by the Schola Cantorum Reykjavik, who bring them beautifully to life'

The Financial Times (4 stars)

'The performances are authoritative, the booklet of notes and texts informative [...] and the recording excellent, at least in 24/96 format. Another outstanding download-only release from Resonus.'

MusicWeb International

'Schola Cantorum Reykjavík under Hörður Áskelsson's direction provide a fine technical performance, but more than that they create a wonderfully evocative and expressive atmosphere. Eerie, haunting and mysterious certainly, but stunning as well.'

Planet Hugill

'The Schola Cantorum Reykjavik under Hörður Áskelsson sing very well indeed [...] Any readers with an interest in contemporary Icelandic choral music should click on www.resonsuclassics.com at their earliest opportunity'

Cross Rhythms

About Hafliði Hallgrímsson

An important figure in the field of Icelandic contemporary music with a growing international reputation, is Hafliði Hallgrimsson. Born in 1941 in the small town of Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland. He began to play the cello at the age of eleven and from 1958-1962 studied the cello at the Music School in Reykjavík. The following year he attended classes given by the legendary cellist Enrico Mainardi in Rome. Having been a member of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra from 1963-1964, he continued his studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music. He was awarded the coveted Madam Suggia Prize and a Recital Medal when leaving the Academy in 1966. Following his studies at the Academy, he studied composition privately with Elizabeth Luthyens, Dr. Alan Bush and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

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