There’s homespun charm and real world sounds, along with electronics, in intimate piano music by Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds, German composer Martin Kohlstedt, and Brighton, UK-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Poppy Ackroyd.
Ólafur Arnalds is an Icelandic composer and multi-instrumentalist whose lyrical and lovely limns the space between classical music, electronic music and film scores, with a delicate undercurrent of minimalism. On his latest intimate-sounding record, some kind of peace, which reflects on connections and rituals, he incorporates piano, strings, and electronics, but also live and taped voices. Hear some of the record, along with a Soundcheck Podcast session recorded from Reykjavik.
Then, listen to some of the inner mechanics of the instrument itself in music by German composer Martin Kohlstedt. Recorded in lockdown at home, Kohlstedt incorporates sounds of piano, recorded at home with open windows so that birds and a passing rain shower are clearly heard. Musical modules. Plus, music by Poppy Ackroyd made from familiar instruments, like piano, harpsichord, and violin- all sampled and sculpted in unexpected ways. Hear “Birdwoman” from her record, Feathers.
Ólafur Arnalds : "We Contain Multitudes":
Program #4434, Homespun PIano (First Aired 11/25/2020)
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: New Grass [1:00]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Martin Kohlstedt
WORK: ZIN [4:12]
RECORDING: FLUR
SOURCE: Warner Classics
INFO: martinkohlstedt.com/shop
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: Undone [5:04]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: We Contain Multitudes [2:58]
RECORDING: Live, from Reykjavik
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2V1aZ0mBKM
INFO: From the Soundcheck Podcast: bit.ly/olafur2020
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: Woven Song [2:27]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: Spiral [3:21]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: Momentary [1:43]
RECORDING: Live, from Reykjavik
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2V1aZ0mBKM
INFO: From the Soundcheck Podcast: bit.ly/olafur2020
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: Saman [2:21]
RECORDING: Live, from Reykjavik
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2V1aZ0mBKM
INFO: From the Soundcheck Podcast: bit.ly/olafur2020
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds with Josin
WORK: The Bottom Line [0:34]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Ólafur Arnalds
WORK: New Grass [3:58]
RECORDING: some kind of peace
SOURCE: Decca Records
INFO: https://mkx.lnk.to/OASKOP
ARTIST: Poppy Ackroyd
WORK: Birdwoman [5:36]
RECORDING: Feathers
SOURCE: Denovali Records
INFO: denovali.com
ARTIST: Martin Kohlstedt
WORK: AJA [4:34]
RECORDING: FLUR
SOURCE: Warner Classics
INFO: martinkohlstedt.com/shop