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Radio 3’s European Roadtrip: A journey to Iceland

Sara Mohr-Pietsch maps an Icelandic musical landscape, listening in deeply to find sonic connections across time and space. Her destination: Elegy by Jon Leifs.

As part of Radio 3’s European Roadtrip, Sara Mohr-Pietsch maps a musical landscape around a piece by the father of Icelandic classical music Jon Leifs, drifting down sonic avenues that link music across time and space. From stark evocations of the Icelandic landscape to the folk music that grew out of it, via contemporary classical Icelandic composers and music by Bartok, Brahms and Philip Herbert, Sara charts a musical journey towards Leifs' stunning string piece, Elegy.

1 hour, 29 minutes

Music Played

  • Jón Leifs

    Requiem, Op. 33a

    Choir: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hordur Askelsson.
    • BIS.
  • Sigvaldi Kaldalóns

    Ave María

    Music Arranger: Víkingur Ólafsson. Performer: Víkingur Ólafsson.
    • From Afar.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 12.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (A German Requiem)

    Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 4.
  • Percy Grainger

    Two Musical Relics of my Mother

    Performer: Penelope Thwaites. Performer: John Lavender.
    • Heritage.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Songs my Mother Taught Me (Gypsy Melodies)

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • Sony Classical.
  • Jón Leifs

    Elegy, Op 53

    Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: En Shao.
    • BIS.
  • Béla Bartók

    Romanian Folk Dances

    Ensemble: Il Giardino Armonico. Director: Giovanni Antonini.
    • La Roxolana.
    • Alpha.
    • 09.
  • Anonymous

    Rimur

    Singer: Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson.
    • Smekkleysa.
  • Anonymous

    Բ辱-æ岹

    Ensemble: Spilmenn Ríkínís.
    • Smekkleysa.
  • Jón Leifs

    Icelandic Dance, Op. 11 No. 1

    Orchestra: Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo Vänskä.
    • BIS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV.645

    Music Arranger: Ferruccio Busoni. Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • Songs Without Words: Murray Perahia.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.
  • Claude Debussy

    Jeux de vagues (La mer)

    Orchestra: Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Debussy: La Mer: Abbado, Lucerne Festival Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 2.
  • Anna Thorvaldsdottir

    In the Light of Air (Existence)

    Ensemble: International Contemporary Ensemble.
    • Sono Luminus.
  • Sigur Rós

    Fljótavik (arr for violin and orchestra)

    Performer: Stephanie Gonley. Ensemble: Dmitri Ensemble. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Josquin des Prez

    Nymphes des bois

    Choir: Cappella Pratensis. Conductor: Joshua Rifkin.
    • Challenge Classics.
  • Jules Massenet

    Elegie (arr. for cello and piano)

    Performer: Edgar Moreau. Performer: Pierre-Yves Hodique.
    • Play - Works for Cello and Piano.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 12.
  • Philip Herbert

    Elegy [In Memoriam Stephen Lawrence]

    Orchestra: Chineke! Orchestra. Conductor: Anthony Parnther.
    • Spark Catchers.
    • NMC.
  • Richard Strauss

    Beim Schlafengehen (4 Last Songs)

    Singer: Jessye Norman. Performer: Gerhard Bosse. Orchestra: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Kurt Masur.
    • Strauss, R.: Four Last Songs; 6 Orchestral Songs - Norman, Gewandhausorchester L.
    • Philips.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 - 1st Movement

    Performer: Richard Egarr. Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

Broadcast

  • Sun 5 Jan 2025 13:30