About this item

In Jn Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland, rni Heimir Inglfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899-1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation.In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Inglfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls.