Iceland Airwaves - Matinée / Umbra Ensemble
Iceland Airwaves - Matinée at Hallgrímskirkja with Umbra Ensemble
The Icelandic ensemble Umbra is critically acclaimed as “one of the most interesting ensembles” in Iceland, particularly for their musical ambition and “outstanding arrangements” in the field of ancient and traditional music.
Umbra was founded in 2014 by four female professional musicians: Alexandra Kjeld (double bass and vocals), Arngerður María Árnadóttir (celtic harp, organ and vocals), Guðbjörg Hlín Guðmundsdóttir (violin and vocals) and Lilja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir (lead singer, percussion and flutes). From the beginning their vision has been to craft their own musical world with a distinct sound and unique delivery in performing both ancient and new music. The ensemble's repertoire features sacred and secular medieval tunes from Iceland and continental Europe, as well as traditional songs, performed to the ensemble's original arrangements. In addition to that they have been performing Icelandic contemporary music by some of the country's most prominent composers.
Umbra has performed at numerous concerts and festivals all over Iceland and in Europe. They have as well been collaborating with improvisation artists, visual and dance artists on a regular basis.
The first record, Out of darkness was released early 2018 by independent music label Dimma and followed later the same year by their second album, Solstitium which won Record of the Year at the 2018 Icelandic Music Awards.
“On the album Solstitium, Umbra takes the audience on a transcendental musical journey through dark winter days. The songs, some well known but others less, are formidably arranged and performed by this great ensemble of female musicians. An album of an extraordinarily high quality.”
The third record Llibre vermell was released in 2019. The latest album; Bjargrúnir - Icelandic folksongs and ballads, was released in May 2022 and is distributed by the German label Nordic Notes to 10 countries in Europe.
Tickets are available at the door and on https://tix.is/is/event/
Price 2000 ISK