Staff Blog
Iceland’s Jóhann Jóhannsson’s hits Philly for the first time
posted by kylepress
A barely audible synthesized patch of ethereality sounds, slowly plays a serene chord progression, grows. Two violins enter with a simple melody, viola and cello enter with a countermelody, electronics are introduced and before you know it you have been completely submerged in sound. Then the strings modulate, start a new melody and the building continues.
Icelandic composer/performer Jóhann Jóhannsson’s music has been described as ambient, modern, neu-classical. He has won awards for film scores, collaborated with artists of all disciplines and succeeds in creating sweeping, cinematic overtures that paint intriguing portraits of modern life — his first solo album, IBM 1401, A User’s Manual is about the first computer to arrive in Iceland, his second, and most recent, Fordlandia explores the idea of a society’s failed attempt at utopianism through allegorical tales about pagan rocket builders, overzealous capitalists, and dying mythological gods.
This spring Jóhannsson embarked on his first ever U.S. tour. He’ll use the same instrumentation as his recording (that is, when that lineup is not being supplanted by a 50-piece orchestra), but the featured musicians will be members of the American Contemporary Music Ensemble rather than the usual cast of Icelanders.
Sat., June 27th, 8 p.m., $10-20, w/ Lichens, St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk, thegatherings.org.
