About Jón Ásgeirsson
Jón Ásgeirsson, 97, Icelandic composer.
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Full Biography
|Jón Ásgeirsson (full name: Jón Gunnar Ásgeirsson, 11 October 1928 – 21 November 2025) was an Icelandic composer, teacher, and conductor. He is known for his songs and choral arrangements, many of which remain highly popular in Iceland.
Career
Jón Ásgeirsson was born in Ísafjörður but later moved to Reykjavík and studied at the Reykjavík College of Music, where his teachers included Victor Urbancic and Jón Þórarinsson. He continued his education at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in Glasgow, and at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
Upon returning to Iceland, he became a well-known composer and arranger, music educator, and conductor. In the 1960s, he conducted Liljukórinn, a chamber choir for which he made several arrangements that later became highly popular. He was the first music educator to be promoted to the rank of professor in Iceland. In 1996, he became a professor of music at the Icelandic Teacher's University.
His music is frequently inspired by Icelandic folk songs and folk poetry. Among works that use folk tunes are his Piano Quintet and the orchestral Lilja, based on an ancient tune. Original works in a folkloric style include his Fjórar stemmur (Four Verses) for choir, composed for the Hamrahlíð Choir in 1977. Another strain of works is written in a melodious, neo-classical vein, influenced partly by Paul Hindemith. Among these works is the substantial choral composition, Tíminn og vatnið for SATB choir.
Jón Ásgeirsson wrote the first full-length Icelandic opera, Þrymskviða (The Lay of Thrym), which was premiered at the Reykjavík Arts Festival in 1974, to positive reviews. He later wrote two additional operas: Galdra-Loftur (Loftur the Magician), premiered at the Reykjavík Arts Festival in 1996, and Möttuls saga. He also composed several concertos for various instruments, including cello, clarinet, and flute.
Jón's most popular works are songs derived from his incidental music to the play Hús skáldsins (National Theater of Iceland, 1982), based on a novel by Halldór Laxness. These include Maístjarnan (The May Star) and Hjá lygnri móðu (By a Calm Brook), which have been performed by various renowned artists, including Björk and the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge.
Jón Ásgeirsson received various honors and prizes for his work. In 1996, he was made Honorary Artist of the city of Reykjavík. In 2001, he was made a Commander of the Order of the Falcon by the president of Iceland, for his contribution to music in Iceland. He received an honorary doctorate from the Icelandic Teacher's University in 2008, and the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2019 Icelandic Music Awards. From 2020 until his death, he received an Honorary Artist Salary from the Icelandic Parliament.
Selected works
- Fornir dansar (Ancient Dances) for orchestra, 1968.
- Sjöstrengjaljóð (Seven-String Poem) for string orchestra, 1968.
- Lilja (Lily) for orchestra, 1970.
- Þrymskviða (Lay of Thrym), opera, 1974.
- Tíminn og vatnið (Time and the Water, text: Steinn Steinarr), SATB choir, 1977.
- Fjórar stemmur (Four Verses) for SATB choir, 1977.
- Incidental music to Hús skáldsins (Halldór Laxness), including Maístjarnan and Hjá lygnri móðu, 1982.
- Þjóðvísa (Folk Verse) for orchestra, 1982.
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, 1983.
- Galdra-Loftur (Loftur the Magician), opera, 1995.
- Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, 1998.
- Wind Quintet no. 2, 1999.
- Flute Concerto, 2003.
- Möttuls saga, opera, 2008.
Arrangements:
- Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu (Augun mín og augun þín)/The Verses of Vatnsenda-Rósa, SATB choir, ca. 1960.
- Gloria tibi, SATB choir, 1962.
- Sofðu, unga ástin mín (Sleep, my young love), SATB choir.
Selected recordings
- Gloria tibi, Sofðu unga ástin mín, Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu. On Íslensk þjóðlög/Icelandic Folk Songs. The Hamrahlíð Choir, cond. Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir. Iceland Music Information Center, 1993.
- Sjöstrengjaljóð (also includes Piano Quintet, Wind Quintet). Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra. Smekkleysa, 2003.
- Tíminn og vatnið. Langholtskirkja Chamber Choir, cond. Jón Stefánsson. Iceland Music Information Center, 2008.
- Hjá lygnri móðu. Björk Guðmundsdóttir, Jónas Sen. RÚV 2013.
- Í gleðinni (Come and Be Joyful, from Four Verses). On Come and Be Joyful. The Hamrahlíð Choir, cond. Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir. One Little Independent Records, 2020.
- Hjá lygnri móðu. On Ice Land: The Eternal Music. Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, cond. Graham Ross. Harmonia Mundi, 2022.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3n_%C3%81sgeirsson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Jón Ásgeirsson's archived record and the sources above.
1.The work 'Fjórar stemmur' by Jón Ásgeirsson was composed for which specific ensemble?
- A.Hamrahlíð Choircorrect
- B.Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra
- C.Langholtskirkja Chamber Choir
- D.Choir of Clare College
Jón Ásgeirsson composed Fjórar stemmur in 1977 specifically for the Hamrahlíð Choir.
Source: Career section
2.Jón Ásgeirsson became a professor of music at which university in 1996?
- A.Icelandic Teacher's Universitycorrect
- B.Guildhall School of Music
- C.Royal Scottish Academy
- D.University of Iceland
In 1996, Jón Ásgeirsson began his tenure as a professor of music at the Icelandic Teacher's University.
Source: Career section
3.Which artist is specifically mentioned as having performed Jón Ásgeirsson's song 'Hjá lygnri móðu'?
- A.Jón Þórarinsson
- B.Björkcorrect
- C.Steinn Steinarr
- D.Victor Urbancic
The song Hjá lygnri móðu has been performed by various artists, including the singer Björk.
Source: Career section
4.When was the opera 'Galdra-Loftur' by Jón Ásgeirsson first premiered?
- A.2008
- B.1974
- C.1996correct
- D.1982
Galdra-Loftur, also known as Loftur the Magician, premiered at the Reykjavík Arts Festival in 1996.
Source: Career section
5.In what year did Jón Ásgeirsson pass away?
- A.2019
- B.2022
- C.2025correct
- D.2020
The biographical text states that Jón Ásgeirsson was born on 11 October 1928 and died on 21 November 2025.
Source: Introduction
6.Jón Ásgeirsson's orchestral work 'Lilja' is based on what type of music?
- A.A contemporary opera score
- B.An ancient tunecorrect
- C.A neo-classical melody
- D.A poem by Steinn Steinarr
Jón Ásgeirsson's orchestral work Lilja is based on an ancient tune as part of his folk-inspired compositions.
Source: Career section
7.In which Icelandic town was Jón Gunnar Ásgeirsson born?
- A.Kópavogur
- B.Reykjavík
- C.Ísafjörðurcorrect
- D.Akureyri
Jón Ásgeirsson was born in Ísafjörður before eventually moving to Reykjavík.
Source: Career section
8.What is the full name of the Icelandic composer Jón Ásgeirsson?
- A.Jón Gunnar Ásgeirssoncorrect
- B.Jón Halldór Ásgeirsson
- C.Jón Victor Ásgeirsson
- D.Jón Þórarinsson Ásgeirsson
The biography explicitly identifies his full name as Jón Gunnar Ásgeirsson.
Source: Introduction
9.Which educational institution did Jón Ásgeirsson attend in London?
- A.Trinity College of Music
- B.Royal College of Music
- C.Guildhall School of Musiccorrect
- D.Royal Academy of Music
After studying in Scotland, Jón Ásgeirsson continued his education at the Guildhall School of Music in London.
Source: Career section
10.Jón Ásgeirsson served as a conductor for which chamber choir in the 1960s?
- A.Hamrahlíð Choir
- B.Liljukórinncorrect
- C.Langholtskirkja Chamber Choir
- D.Reykjavík Chamber Choir
In the 1960s, Jón Ásgeirsson conducted Liljukórinn, for which he created several arrangements.
Source: Career section
11.Which of the following operas was the first full-length opera written by Jón Ásgeirsson?
- A.Möttuls saga
- B.Tíminn og vatnið
- C.Þrymskviðacorrect
- D.Galdra-Loftur
Jón Ásgeirsson wrote the first full-length Icelandic opera titled Þrymskviða, which premiered in 1974.
Source: Career section
12.In what year did Jón Ásgeirsson receive the Lifetime Achievement award at the Icelandic Music Awards?
- A.2008
- B.2001
- C.1996
- D.2019correct
Jón Ásgeirsson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2019 Icelandic Music Awards.
Source: Career section
13.Jón Ásgeirsson's incidental music for the play 'Hús skáldsins' was based on a novel by which author?
- A.Steinn Steinarr
- B.Paul Hindemith
- C.Halldór Laxnesscorrect
- D.Vatnsenda-Rósa
The incidental music for the 1982 play Hús skáldsins was based on a novel by Halldór Laxness.
Source: Career section
14.Which composer's style is cited as an influence on the neo-classical works of Jón Ásgeirsson?
- A.Jón Þórarinsson
- B.Paul Hindemithcorrect
- C.Graham Ross
- D.Victor Urbancic
Jón Ásgeirsson wrote works in a melodious, neo-classical vein influenced partly by Paul Hindemith.
Source: Career section
15.What title was bestowed upon Jón Ásgeirsson by the president of Iceland in 2001?
- A.Honorary Artist of the city of Reykjavík
- B.Commander of the Order of the Falconcorrect
- C.Professor Emeritus of Music
- D.Doctor of Music
In 2001, Jón Ásgeirsson was made a Commander of the Order of the Falcon for his contribution to music.
Source: Career section
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