Gunnsteinn Olafsson started his career as a conductor in 1994 by gaining second prize at the Young Scandinavian Conductors Competition in Bergen, Norway, where the jury was chaired by Mstislav Rostropovich. He worked with all the major orchestras and music ensembles in Iceland.

In 2000, Gunnsteinn established a Folk Music Festival in his native town, Siglufjörður, where Icelandic folk music is emphasized as well as music from other countries. In 2006 he established a Folk Music Center in Siglufjörður with video recordings he produced with Langmark Film of people performing Icelandic folk music. Gunnsteinn also performed Icelandic folk songs himself for foreigners in Iceland since 1982 and at festivals abroad.

In 2004 Gunnsteinn founded the Iceland Youth Symphony Orchestra. As well as conducting that orchestra, he taught at the Iceland Academy of Arts and Reykjavík College of Music. In 2004, Gunnsteinn edited a book on 200 rimur songs, the so-called Silfurplötur Iðunnar (Iðunn’s Silver Platters), the first new publication on Icelandic folk music since 1906. In September 2007, he was engaged as chorus master at the University of Iceland.

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

SIGLO FESTIVAL

Tvísöngur is a two-part song where the singing alternates between unison and parallel fifths. Elsewhere in Europe, it is known as organum. Mostly Tvisöngur was sung by 2 men. 

There are very few people who still practice this singing tradition.

Siglufjörður, Iceland 2018

Video: Discover Folkmusic

DoP: Anne Luft

Audio: Moritz Degen

Bára Grímsdóttir is thought by many people to be one of the best traditional singers in her native country. She is also widely respected in Iceland as a composer, especially of vocal music.  She grew up surrounded by folk songs, hearing her parents and grandparents singing at the family farm Grímstunga in Vatnsdalur in the north of Iceland.

Bára has a special interest in the old rimur and kvæðalög styles of song, but she is also knowledgeable about and performs songs in a range of other traditional forms, both secular and religious. 

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

FUNI ICELAND

RIMUR ICELAND

Folk Music Centre  – Songs by Jórunn Viðar and Icelandic folk songs

* Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson voice and Icelandic langspil

* Björk Níelsdóttir voice and Icelandic langspil

* Steinunn Arnbjörg Stefánsdóttir voice and barock cello

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

The duo Ingibjargir has been working on new songs to poems by the third Ingibjörg (Haraldsdóttir 1942-2016). The three women merge into one Ingibjörg, one spirit, one sound.
A memorable musical experience where poems by Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir are woven into the soundscape of singer Ingibjörg Fríða and composer Ingibjörg Ýr. You will hear the Icelandic folk instrument langspil, as well as the piano, clarinet, electric sounds, kalimbas, harmonium and, of course, voices.
Songs to poems by Ingibjörg Haraldsdóttir

* Ingibjörg Ýr Skarphéðinsdóttir; voice, piano, harmonium, Icelandic langspil, clarinet

* Ingibjörg Fríða Helgadóttir; voice, kalimba, bowl

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

The Herring Era Museum – Songs from the Atlantic

Duo Atlantica

* Guðrún Jóhanna Ólafsdóttir mezzo soprano, Iceland

* Francisco Javier Jáuregui guitar, Spain

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

Spilmenn Rikinis gave their first public performance at the Berjadagur Festival in north Iceland in August 2006. They have since appeared at many concerts in both north and south Iceland. Spilmenn Ríkínís perform Icelandic folksongs and music from old Icelandic books and manuscripts, using musical instruments which are known to have been played in Iceland in olden times.

* Örn Magnússon voice, Icelandic langspil, rebec

* Marta Halldórsdóttir voice, gothic harp

* Halldór Arnarson voice, goat horn, Icelandic langspil

* Ásta Arnardóttir voice, rebec

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Church, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

Sound: Árni Möller

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic

Vikivaki is ancient ringdance that have taken place in the nordic countries from middle ages to modern day. The word Vikvaki is probably from the words “víkja “ (step aside/from someone) and Vaka ( awake ). People dance in a ring and hold either in other peoples hands/shoulders and step two steps to left and one right though often with many varieties like heavy step in the floor every eight step. 

Vikvaki took often place in Iceland but around 17th century the national church thought this was “slutty paganism leftovers “ that needed to be shut down. In Iceland, Víkivaki songs were once absolutely forbidden to sing while on sea. People feared creatures on the sea would attack, and specially was forbidden to finish all the poems in Ólafur Liljurós inside a farm because people feared the farm will burn down. The difference between the Icelandic ones and the Faroese ones are the Icelandic ones survived alot more of old norse poetry called Hákviða, but the the faroese have alot more dances and a lot longer.

Siglo Festival, Siglufjörður Iceland 2018

The Folk Music Academy – Icelandic Viki vaki Folk Dances 2018

Kolfinna Sigurvinsdottir & Hulda Sverrisdottir

Video: DiscoverFolkmusic

DOP: Anja Simon

Sound: Árni Möller & Discover Folkmusic