Intrada II (1999)

Jónas Tómasson (b. 1946) — Intrada II (1999) for organ

Icelandic composer Jónas Tómasson (b. 1946) studied first in Reykjavík with Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson and then in Amsterdam with Ton de Leeuw. He is a member of the faculty of Ísafjörður School of Music and has been particularly active with community music making, especially in rural parts of Iceland. Though most of Tómasson’s works bear traditional genre names (sonata, concerto, nocturne, cantata), his interpretation of the forms is quite personal and often rather unusual.

“Intrada II” (1999) was written for the confirmation of the composer’s son Tómas Árni Jónasson. The harmonies of this brief work are created entirely from the upper partials of the overtone series, creating an effect much like the ringing of a giant bell over the fundamental pitch of the organ’s lowest C.

Published by the Iceland Music Information Centre (http://www.mic.is)