María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir (b. 1980)

Clockworking (2013) 8 minutes

2 flutes, piccolo, bass clarinet, 3 horns, trombone, tuba, alto glockenspiel, bass drum, 2 marimbas, Thai gong, harp, and strings.

María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir studied violin at the Reykjavík College of Music, and composition at the Iceland Academy of the Arts.  While in college, Sigfúsdóttir co-founded an ensemble now known as amiina.  Sigfúsdóttir’s Clockworking was commissioned by the Icelandic period instrument chamber group, Nordic Affect.  In Clockworking, an old work song serves as the basis for hypnotic music, exploring the relationship of humans and machines.  Clockworking was originally scored for violin, viola, cello, and electronics.  These performances, the work’s U.S. premiere, features the composition in its orchestral version. 

 

Notes by Ken Meltzer © 2019