Thor in Tones – A Centennial Tribute to the Poet

Performers: KIMI ensemble: Jónas Ásgeir Ásgeirsson accordionist, Katerina Anagnostidou percussionist og Þórgunnur Anna Örnólfsdóttir vocalist

Glittering…kaleidoscopic…shimmering gleam. Fleeting visions that flicker and blaze. Droplets in swamp moss tremble, sparkle like delicate jewels. Shadow-dimmed…ocean-deep hues…I scream when you scream // scream louder, mad sea…

The writer Thor Vilhjálmsson would have celebrated his 100th birthday on August 12, 2025. To mark the occasion, KIMI ensemble presents a concert featuring pieces, both old and new, set to texts by Thor. The programme includes two new pieces written especially for the event by composers María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir and Haukur Tómasson, as well as works by Áskell Másson and Atli Heimir Sveinsson, both with whom Thor collaborated extensively. María Huld’s piece is set to Thor’s nature poems "Thalatta: Five Poems about the Sea", where Páll Guðmundsson’s stone harp from Húsafell plays a central role. Haukur’s piece “Echoes from the Garden” is based on carefully selected prose excerpts reflecting recurring themes in Thor’s writing: human life - the beyond - nature.

Thor Vilhjálmsson was a prolific author and translator, a pioneering figure in Icelandic literary modernism, and a passionate advocate for culture and the arts in society. He received numerous honours throughout his career, including the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Icelandic Literary Prize. He was deeply musical and often drew inspiration from music, especially live performances of classical music.

Pre-Concert Chat at 19:00: Have a drink in Hörpuhorn and chat with Seigla's performers about the upcoming concert, about the programme and the music they will be performing later that evening.

Programme

Áskell Másson (1953)

„The Shadow Has a Complex Machine“ (1991) - video work

Áskell Másson (1953)

Step in Step (1994/2025, recomposed for KIMI)

KIMI ensemble/Thor (improvisation)

„A tone sustained for two and a half minutes, produced by a bowl bell (in f-sharp minor)“ - poem by Thor Vilhálmsson to KIMI ensemble’s improvisation

Haukur Tómasson (1960)

Echoes from the Garden (World Premiere)

I. human life

II. the beyond

III. nature

Ingibjörg Þorbergs (1927-2019)

The Grey Moss Glows: “The Shepherd’s Evening“ (1998)

A Reading / Atli Heimir Sveinsson (1938-2019)

„Three little things“ - A Birthday Greeting to Thor 1985

Between the three sections, selected excerpts of texts by Thor will be read.

María Huld Markan (1980)

Thalatta: Five Poems about the Sea (World Premiere)

Atli Heimir Sveinsson (1938-2019)

Autumn (1981, Poem by Thor Vilhjálmsson)

More information, festival programme and artists bios available at www.seiglafestival.com

Harpa is the main sponsor of Seigla 2025. Seigla music festival is supported by SUT and Ruth Hermanns Music Fund, Ýlir, Iceland University of the Arts and The Icelandic Schumann Society.