Performance: Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daníel Bjarnason, Reykjavik (2019)

Oceans evokes powerful images of the vast seas surrounding Sigfusdottir’s native Iceland. The symphonic work’s phrases are long and smooth, yet constantly in motion, like the waves of the ocean. The piece was premiered in January 2019 at Harpa in Reykjavik by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Oceans was included on the acclaimed album “Concurrence” released by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, featuring four pieces by Icelandic composers.

“Oceans, with its gently gliding movements and ravishing plays of light and color, conjures visions of the natural world. But there’s also something ineffably human, emotional, and personal in its cinematic swells and haunting suspensions.” – Sono Luminus Recording Studio

About María Sigfúsdóttir:

“María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (b. 1980) is a composer and a violinist.
She graduated as a violinist from the Reykjavik College of Music in 2000 and with a Bachelor’s degree in composition from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2007.
María is a member of the band amiina from 1999. amiina has released and recorded several albums and performed their music around the world as well as collaborated with various artists.
Maria has been a long time collaborator of Sigur Rós from 2000. Recent work with the band includes orchestration for their album and tour, Átta.

María has composed music for orchestras, various sized ensembles, choir, choreography, visual arts and films.
Maria’s compositions have been recorded and released internationally. Clockworking, Sleeping Pendulum, Aequora, Spirals, Loom, Oceans, Clockworking for Orchestra and Kom vinur all have been released on the US label Sono Luminus. Her compositions have been performed in Iceland, USA, Australia and Europe.

Her piece, Loom, was on the top 25 list of best classical music tracks of 2018 in The New York Times. The album Concurrence, which includes Maria’s piece Oceans, performed by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Daníel Bjarnason was on the top 25 list of best classical music albums of 2019 in The New York Times as well as nominated for the Grammy awards 2021 for best performance.

As well as composing her own music, María has recorded and collaborated with a range of artists and bands including Los Angeles Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony  Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, London Contemporary Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Robert Ames, Daníel Bjarnason, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Joan Jonas, Spiritualized, Nordic Affect, London Sinfonietta, Francesco Scavetta, Brice Dessner, Yann Tiersen, Ragnar Kjartansson, Kjartan Sveinsson and many more.”

– María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir