Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson: Piano Trio in E minor

Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson

[스베인비외르든 스베인비외르든손]

(1847 – 1927) was an Icelandic composer best known for composing "Lofsöngur", the national anthem of Iceland.

 Piano Trio in E minor

Piano Trio in E minor

I. Allegro  0:00
II. Andantino  5:11
III. Allegretto scherzando  9:33
IV. Allegro  12:56

Nina-Margret Grimsdottir, piano
Audur Hafsteinsdottir, violin
Sigurgeir Agnarsson, cello

Sveinbjörn was born in Seltjarnarnes. He was studying divinity when he met a young Norwegian violinist and composer, Johan Svendsen. At the time, Svendsen had just finished his studies in Leipzig and encouraged Sveinbjörn to go and study music, either in Leipzig or Copenhagen. Sveinbjörn went to Copenhagen, but later carried on to Leipzig where his teacher was Carl Reinecke. Consequently, Sveinbjörn gained a far higher level of musical education than other musicians in Iceland at that time. As the musical opportunities were limited in Iceland at the end of the 19th century, Sveinbjörn moved to Edinburgh. His composition pieces were mostly melody songs or poetical chamber music in the spirit of Mendelssohn. Sveinbjörn also composed a considerable number of folk songs. In 1922, the Icelandic parliament, Althing, decided to grant him a pension, which allowed him to return to Iceland. He died in Copenhagen.