{{short description|Icelandic composer and conductor (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Icelandic name|Daníel}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Daníel Bjarnason | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|2|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Iceland | occupation = {{hlist|Composer|conductor}} | label = Bedroom Community | genre = Classical, experimental | website = {{URL|https://www.danielbjarnason.com/}} }}
'''Daníel Bjarnason''' (born 26 February 1979) is an Icelandic composer and conductor. He has garnered widespread acclaim for his debut album, ''Processions'' (2010), with TimeOut NY writing he "create(s) a sound that comes eerily close to defining classical music's undefinable brave new world".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Time Out New York|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/the-volume-blog/q-a-with-danel-bjarnason-yes-he-really-can-just-call-up-bjrk |title=Q&A with Danel Bjarnason: Yes, he really can just call up Björk |author=Olivia Giovetti |date=1 March 2010 |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325185340/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/the-volume-blog/q-a-with-danel-bjarnason-yes-he-really-can-just-call-up-bjrk |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{TOC limit|3}}
==Life and career== Born on 26 February 1979,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tso.ca/en-ca/Discover-the-Music/Programme-Notes/IBow-to-StringI.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141226115306/http://tso.ca/en-ca/Discover-the-Music/Programme-Notes/IBow-to-StringI.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 December 2014 |title=Daníel Bjarnason: Bow to String |publisher=Toronto Symphony Orchestra |access-date=26 December 2014 }}</ref> Daníel studied composition, piano and conducting in Reykjavik, before going on to further study orchestral conducting at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grapevine.is/culture/music/airwaves/artists/2013/09/12/daniel-bjarnason/|title=Daníel Bjarnason – The Reykjavik Grapevine|last=grapevine.is|date=12 September 2013|work=grapevine.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> He has had a number of works commissioned and debuted by Los Angeles Philharmonic.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Los Angeles Philharmonic|url=http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/bow-to-string-us-premiere-daniel-bjarnason |title=Bow to String (U.S. premiere) |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128003724/https://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/bow-to-string-us-premiere-daniel-bjarnason |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Orange County Register|url=http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/orchestra-497337-dudamel-new.html |title=L.A. Philharmonic fills new season with premieres|date=26 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://todaysart.org/2012/artist/?aname=music-for-solaris |title=Artist « TodaysArt | Festival 2012 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130705113951/http://todaysart.org/2012/artist/?aname=music-for-solaris |archive-date=5 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Daníel is currently composer-in-residence at the Muziekgebouw Frits Philips, Eindhoven, Netherlands<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.muziekgebouweindhoven.nl/series/composer-in-residence/|title=Composer in residence|publisher=Muziekgebouw Frits Philips|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202063313/https://www.muziekgebouweindhoven.nl/series/composer-in-residence/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was artist-in-residence with Iceland Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2018. He has also collaborated with artists from many different genres, including Ben Frost,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/1720|title=Daniel Bjarnason and Ben Frost: A soundtrack to Solaris|website=residentadvisor.net|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> Sigur Rós<ref>{{cite web|url=https://icelandmusic.is/news/daniel-bjarnason-to-arrange-sigur-ros/|title=Daníel Bjarnason to arrange Sigur Rós|date=8 August 2011|work=icelandmusic.is|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003424/https://icelandmusic.is/news/daniel-bjarnason-to-arrange-sigur-ros/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Brian Eno.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=19906|title=Ben Frost & Daníel Bjarnason: Music for Sólaris|publisher=Barbican Centre|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317040224/http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=19906|archive-date=17 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Various conductors have also performed Daníel's work, including Gustavo Dudamel,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gustavodudamel.com/us-en/gustavo-dudamel-conducts-la-phil-in-bjarnason-world-premiere-and-rachmaninoff-piano-concerto-no-3-with-yuja-wang|title=Gustavo Dudamel Conducts La Phil in Bjarnason World Premiere and Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 with Yuja Wang|website=gustavodudamel.com|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325185351/https://www.gustavodudamel.com/us-en/gustavo-dudamel-conducts-la-phil-in-bjarnason-world-premiere-and-rachmaninoff-piano-concerto-no-3-with-yuja-wang|url-status=dead}}</ref> John Adams,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laphil.com/press/john-adams-leads-la-phil-new-music-group-green-umbrella-program-featuring-premieres-daniel|title=John Adams Leads the La Phil New Music Group in a Green Umbrella Program Featuring Premiers by Daníel Bjarnason and Nico Muhly|work=laphil.com|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204091946/http://www.laphil.com/press/john-adams-leads-la-phil-new-music-group-green-umbrella-program-featuring-premieres-daniel|url-status=dead}}</ref> André de Ridder,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.sinfonia.is/concerts-tickets/bedroom-comunity-at-iceland-airwaves|title=Bedroom {{sic|hide=y|reason=spelling error in source|Comunity}} at Iceland Airwaves|work=sinfonia.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> James Conlon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tix.is/is/harpa/event/735/daniel-og-debussy/|title=Daníel og Debussy|work=tix.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> Louis Langrée<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mostlymozart.org/meettheorchestra/music-director|title=Louis Langrée|publisher=Mostly Mozart Festival|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> and Ilan Volkov.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.sinfonia.is/the-orchestra/about-the-orchestra/|title=About the Orchestra|work=sinfonia.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref>
Daníel's recent work has included collaborations with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/daniel-bjarnason|title=Daníel Bjarnason|work=laphil.com|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204010855/http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/daniel-bjarnason|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rambert Dance Company,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rambert.org.uk/performances/frames/|title=Frames|website=rambert.org.uk|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204003908/http://www.rambert.org.uk/performances/frames/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Britten Sinfonia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brittensinfonia.com/archived-event/debussy-donatoni-bjarnason/|title=Debussy, Donatoni & Bjarnason|publisher=Britten Sinfonia|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811105012/https://brittensinfonia.com/archived-event/debussy-donatoni-bjarnason/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cincinnatisymphony.org/stories/cso-plus-pops-tours/|title=Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops announce Major International Tours in 2017|work=cincinnatisymphony.org|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204035213/http://cincinnatisymphony.org/stories/cso-plus-pops-tours/|url-status=dead}}</ref> So Percussion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://opera.is/en/folk/daniel-bjarnason/|title=Daníel Bjarnason|publisher=The Icelandic Opera|access-date=24 January 2020|archive-date=10 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710213156/https://opera.is/en/folk/daniel-bjarnason/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Calder Quartet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artpower.ucsd.edu/release-calder-quartet-performs-beethoven-janacek-bjarnason-norman/|title=Release: Calder Quartet Performs Beethoven, Janáček, Bjarnason, and Norman – ArtPower|date=17 December 2015|website=artpower.ucsd.edu|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, he acted as a co-curator, composer and conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Reykjavik Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laphil.com/tickets/reykjavik-festival|title=Reykjavík Festival|work=laphil.com|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202134654/http://www.laphil.com/tickets/reykjavik-festival|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Awards == Daníel has won numerous awards at the Icelandic Music Awards, including Song of the Year (2015) for "Ek ken di nag"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icelandmusic.is/news/icelandic-music-awards-winners-2015/|title=Icelandic Music Awards Winners 2015|date=22 February 2015|work=icelandmusic.is|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083734/https://icelandmusic.is/news/icelandic-music-awards-winners-2015/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Composer of the Year, 2013 for his works ''The Isle Is Full of Noises'' and ''Over Light Earth''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ismus.is/i/person/id-1005962|title=Daníel Bjarnason – Ísmús|work=ismus.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fracturedair.com/2013/12/05/chosen-one-daniel-bjarnason/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206041614/http://fracturedair.com/2013/12/05/chosen-one-daniel-bjarnason/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 December 2013|title=Chosen One: Daníel Bjarnason|date=5 December 2013|work=fracturedair.com|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> ''Over Light Earth'' (2013) won the Icelandic Music Award for the best classical CD of the year in 2013.<ref name="sinfonia.is">{{cite web|url=http://en.sinfonia.is/news/nr/2762|title=Daníel Bjarnason new Artist-in-residence|work=sinfonia.is|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref> Also in 2013, he and Ben Frost won the Edda Award for best soundtrack for their score to film ''The Deep'', directed by Baltasar Kormákur.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icelandreview.com/news/2013/02/18/deep-wins-11-edda-awards|title=The Deep Wins 11 Edda Awards|first=Iceland|last=Review|date=18 February 2013|work=icelandreview.com|access-date=8 February 2017}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2010, Daníel nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council's Music Prize, and won the Kraumur Music Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icelandmusic.is/all-artists/daniel-bjarnason/|title=Daníel Bjarnason|work=icelandmusic.is|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203080742/http://icelandmusic.is/all-artists/daniel-bjarnason/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Daníel has also been awarded a grant from the Kristján Eldjárn Memorial Fund.<ref name="sinfonia.is"/>
== Discography ==
=== Albums === * ''Processions'' (2010) – Bedroom Community * ''Sólaris'' (with Ben Frost) (2011) – Bedroom Community * ''Over Light Earth'' (2013) – Bedroom Community * ''Djúpið'' (2017) – Bedroom Community
=== Works === {{Div col}} ==== Solo and small chamber works ==== * ''5 Chinese Poems'' (2001) * ''4 Seasons of Yosa Buson'' (2003) * ''Skelja'' (2006) * ''Fanfare for Harpa'' (2011) * ''Four Anachronisms'' (2012) * ''Qui Tollis'' (2013) * ''Ek Ken Die Nag'' (2014) * ''Stillshot'' (2015)
==== Ensemble and chamber orchestra ==== * ''All Sounds to Silence Come'' (2007) * ''Over Light Earth'' (2012)
==== Orchestra ==== * ''Emergence'' (2011) * ''Blow Bright'' (2013) * ''Collider'' (2015) * ''From Space I Saw Earth'' ''for three conductors'' (2019)
==== Solo with ensemble/orchestra ==== * ''Solitudes'' (2003) * ''Sleep Variations'' (2005) * ''Processions'' (2009) * ''Bow to String'' (2010) * ''Sólaris'' (2011) * ''The Bells'' (2021)
==== Chorus ==== * ''Enn fagnar heimur'' (2011) * ''Ek Ken Die Nag'' (2014)
==== Chorus and orchestra ==== * ''The Isle Is Full of Noises'' (2012)
==== Solo voice with ensemble ==== * ''Larkin Songs'' (2010)
==== Operas ==== * ''Brothers'' (2017) * ''Agnes'' (TBA)
==== Film scores ==== * ''Reykjavik Guesthouse'' (2003) * ''Come To Harm'' (2011) * ''The Deep'' (2012) * ''Under the Tree'' (2017) * ''The Last Whale Singer'' (2026)
==== Music for dance ==== * ''Smáljón í sjónmáli'' (2011) * ''Frames'' – Alexander Whitley/Rambert (2015)
==== Collaborations ==== * Efterklang (Arranging for and performing in live project "Efterklang, Daníel Bjarnason and their Messing Orchestra") * Ben Frost (''Sólaris'', ''The Deep'') * {{ill|Olivia Pedroli|fr}} (Arranging for and appearing on albums ''The Den'' and ''A Thin Line'') * Ólöf Arnalds (Arrangements on albums ''Við og við'' and ''Innundir skinni'') * Hjaltalín (Arranging for and performing in live project "Alpanon" with Iceland Symphony Orchestra) * Sigur Rós (Arrangements on albums ''Valtari'' and ''Kveikur'') {{Div col end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|https://www.danielbjarnason.com/}}
{{Portal bar|Classical music|Opera|Biography|Music}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjarnason, Daniel}} Daniel Bjarnason Category:Living people Category:1979 births Category:Male classical composers Daniel Bjarnason Category:Male conductors (music) Category:21st-century conductors (music) Category:21st-century male musicians Daniel Bjarnason Category:Hochschule für Musik Freiburg alumni