The work Sandar is based on a traditional Icelandic chant (stemma) “Passing Through This Desert Sand”, referring to the characteristic desolate landscape of Icelandic highlands. But the title also stands close to the English-borrowed term “sándar” which simply means sounding! The rhythmic and harmonic material derives from the chant: the rhythm coming from the text (by Jón Magnússon from Bláskógarbyggð), and the few notes of the melody form the diatonic structure. The surface and the flow of the piece might recall the surface of desert sands, both rough and smooth, beautiful and frightening, warm and rugged.

For performance material please contact Iceland Music Infomation Centre.