Jón Leifs
Encyclopedia
Jón Leifs was an Iceland
ic composer.
Jón was born in Sólheimar. He left Iceland in 1916 to study in Germany
at the Leipzig
Conservatory. He graduated in 1921 having studied piano, and then devoted his time to conducting and composing. He became successful as a conductor, and also as a writer.
He married pianist Annie Riethof. They had two daughters, Snót and Líf, and lived in Wernigerode
and subsequently in Baden-Baden
. Because his wife was Jewish, his family was harassed by the Nazis. In 1944 he moved to Sweden
, and in 1945 he moved back to Iceland. After returning to Iceland he eventually divorced his wife. One of his daughters, Líf, drowned in a swimming accident off the coast of Sweden, and he wrote his string quartet Vita et Mors in her memory.
Most of his works are about Icelandic natural phenomena. In the piece Hekla he depicts the eruption of the volcano Hekla
which he witnessed. Dettifoss (Op. 57) was inspired by the Dettifoss
waterfall, the most powerful in Europe. In the Saga Symphony he musically portrays five characters of famous Icelandic sagas. His last work, Consolation, Intermezzo for string orchestra was written as he was dying. He died of lung cancer in Reykjavík
in 1968.
Jón and his wife are the subjects of the film Tears of Stone / Tár úr steini (1995), directed by the Icelandic director Hilmar Oddsson.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic composer.
Jón was born in Sólheimar. He left Iceland in 1916 to study in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
Conservatory. He graduated in 1921 having studied piano, and then devoted his time to conducting and composing. He became successful as a conductor, and also as a writer.
He married pianist Annie Riethof. They had two daughters, Snót and Líf, and lived in Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
and subsequently in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
. Because his wife was Jewish, his family was harassed by the Nazis. In 1944 he moved to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and in 1945 he moved back to Iceland. After returning to Iceland he eventually divorced his wife. One of his daughters, Líf, drowned in a swimming accident off the coast of Sweden, and he wrote his string quartet Vita et Mors in her memory.
Most of his works are about Icelandic natural phenomena. In the piece Hekla he depicts the eruption of the volcano Hekla
Hekla
Hekla is a stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland with a height of . Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."Hekla is part of a volcanic...
which he witnessed. Dettifoss (Op. 57) was inspired by the Dettifoss
Dettifoss
Dettifoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland, and is reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe.It is situated on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, which flows from the Vatnajökull glacier and collects water from a large area in Northeast Iceland. The falls are 100...
waterfall, the most powerful in Europe. In the Saga Symphony he musically portrays five characters of famous Icelandic sagas. His last work, Consolation, Intermezzo for string orchestra was written as he was dying. He died of lung cancer in Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
in 1968.
Jón and his wife are the subjects of the film Tears of Stone / Tár úr steini (1995), directed by the Icelandic director Hilmar Oddsson.
Works
Jón Leifs works include:- Torrek - Intermezzo (piano piece)
- Studies for solo violin, Op. 3
- Trilogia piccola (1920-1924)
- Overture to 'Loftr, Op. 10
- Icelandic Folk Dances, Op. 11
- Trois peintures abstraites, Op. 44 (Þrjú óhlutræn málverk)
- Mors et Vita, Op. 21 (1st string quartet)
- Saga Symphony, Op. 26
- Requiem, Op. 33
- Baldr, Op.34 (1943-47), A Choreographic Drama in Two Acts
- Vita et Mors, Op. 36 (2nd string quartet)
- Geysir, Op. 51 (1961)
- Hekla, Op. 52 (1964) for orchestra and percussion
- Elegy, Op. 53
- Viking's Answer (Vikingasvar), Op. 54 (1962), Intermezzo for wind ensemble, percussion, violas and double basses
- Fine I, Op. 55 (1963) (Farewell to Earthly Life)
- Fine II, Op. 56 (1963) (Farewell to Earthly Life)
- Dettifoss, Op. 57 (1964)
- Nótt (Night), Op. 59 (1964)
- Hafís (Drift Ice), Op. 63 (1965)
- El Greco, Op. 64 (3rd string quartet)
- Consolation, Intermezzo for string orchestra, Op. 66 (1968)