Haraldur Vignir Sveinbjörnsson
Encyclopedia
Haraldur Vignir Sveinbjörnsson http://www.haraldursveinbjornsson.com (born 1975) is an Icelandic composer / arranger.
(Malmö Music University) where he studied with Kent Olofsson and prof. Luca Francesconi http://web.mac.com/luca.francesconi/Sito/LUCA_FRANCESCONI.html. Sveinbjörnsson also studied recording technique through various courses.
2003. A year later, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra http://www.helsingborgssymfoniorkester.se/Main.aspx?id=6792&epslanguage=SV premiered two pieces by H.Sveinbjörnsson, 7 Songs of the Insomniac in February, and Hraun in May. 7 Songs of the Insomniac was also nominated as best contemporary music
at the Icelandic Music Awards 2005. Other notable pieces include Memento Mei (2005) for mixed choir, Piece & Harmony (2001) for string orchestra
, Duel for solo contrabass and electronics (2003), Dawn (2007) for percussion duo and Hodie (2009) for women's choir. His pieces have been performed all over Europe, in the USA and Australia.
Along with classical compositions Sveinbjörnsson has been playing with various rock and pop groups, including Dead Sea Apple and Menn Ársins. Hit songs include "Sick of Excuses" (Dead Sea Apple 1996), "A Yeah Yeah Love Song" (Dead Sea Apple 1997), "Dear God" (Dead Sea Apple 2003), "Bearer of Bad News" (Dead Sea Apple 2006), "Þakklæti" (Buff 2008), "12 Steps to the Liquor Store" (Menn Ársins 2008), "Gefst ekki upp" (Eurovision song contest preliminary contest - Menn Ársins 2010)
In 2010 he produced and arranged Regína Ósk's
Christmas album "Regína Ósk um gleðileg jól" which has already become a hit seller in Iceland.
He has also arranged sold-out concerts in Iceland including Pink Floyd
's The Wall with Dúndurfréttir and Iceland Symphony Orcestra, Lennon tribute concert in Dec 2006 & Sgt.Peppers Orchestral Tribute concert in 2008. Recent orchestral arrangements include the enormous success of Páll Óskar & Iceland Symphony Orchestra - 4 concerts sold out!
Education
He studied piano with Árni Harðarson at the Kopavogur Music School where he graduated 1997. He finished B.A. degree in composition at Reykjavik Music College 2001 with Hilmar Þórðarson, and M.Mus degree in composition at Lund UniversityLund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
(Malmö Music University) where he studied with Kent Olofsson and prof. Luca Francesconi http://web.mac.com/luca.francesconi/Sito/LUCA_FRANCESCONI.html. Sveinbjörnsson also studied recording technique through various courses.
Compositions
His orchestra piece, Seven Songs of the Insomniac (original title: Sjö byltur svefnleysingjans), won the 'Morgondagens tonsättare'-prize (Tomorrow's composer) in Helsingborg, SwedenHelsingborg
Helsingborg is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark, with the Danish city...
2003. A year later, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra http://www.helsingborgssymfoniorkester.se/Main.aspx?id=6792&epslanguage=SV premiered two pieces by H.Sveinbjörnsson, 7 Songs of the Insomniac in February, and Hraun in May. 7 Songs of the Insomniac was also nominated as best contemporary music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
at the Icelandic Music Awards 2005. Other notable pieces include Memento Mei (2005) for mixed choir, Piece & Harmony (2001) for string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
, Duel for solo contrabass and electronics (2003), Dawn (2007) for percussion duo and Hodie (2009) for women's choir. His pieces have been performed all over Europe, in the USA and Australia.
Along with classical compositions Sveinbjörnsson has been playing with various rock and pop groups, including Dead Sea Apple and Menn Ársins. Hit songs include "Sick of Excuses" (Dead Sea Apple 1996), "A Yeah Yeah Love Song" (Dead Sea Apple 1997), "Dear God" (Dead Sea Apple 2003), "Bearer of Bad News" (Dead Sea Apple 2006), "Þakklæti" (Buff 2008), "12 Steps to the Liquor Store" (Menn Ársins 2008), "Gefst ekki upp" (Eurovision song contest preliminary contest - Menn Ársins 2010)
In 2010 he produced and arranged Regína Ósk's
Regína Ósk
Regína poo Óskarsdóttir is an Icelandic singer. She has participated for Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001, 2003 and 2005 as a backing vocal, and in 2008 as a member of Eurobandið with the song "This Is My Life"...
Christmas album "Regína Ósk um gleðileg jól" which has already become a hit seller in Iceland.
He has also arranged sold-out concerts in Iceland including Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's The Wall with Dúndurfréttir and Iceland Symphony Orcestra, Lennon tribute concert in Dec 2006 & Sgt.Peppers Orchestral Tribute concert in 2008. Recent orchestral arrangements include the enormous success of Páll Óskar & Iceland Symphony Orchestra - 4 concerts sold out!