Biography

Jórunn Viðar was born and grew up in Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...

, Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

. In 1937 she graduated from Reykjavík Grammar School, and in 1937 traveled to Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 to study at the Music Academy in Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

 for two years. She returned to Iceland and married Lárus Fjeldsted (1918–1985). In 1946 the family spent a period of time in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 where she studied composition at the Juilliard School of Music, and after the family moved back to Iceland, Jórunn worked as a pianist and accompanist. She was awarded the Riddarakross for accomplishments in music.

Works

Jórunn Viðar has written a number of compositions based on Icelandic folk songs. She also composed music for the film The Last Town in the Valley. Selected works include:

• Gestaboð um nótt (Text: Einar Bragi Sigurðsson)
• Glugginn (Text: Halldór Kiljan Laxness)
• Hvítur hestur í tunglskini (Text: Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson)
• Im Kahn(Text: Cäsar Flaischlen)
• Júnímorgunn (Text: Tómas Guðmundsson)
• Kall sat undir kletti (Text: Halldóra B. Björnsson)
• Mamma ætlar að sofna (Text: Davið Stefansson)
• Sönglað á göngu (Text: Valgarður Egilsson)
• Þjóðvísa (Text: Tómas Guðmundsson)
• Únglíngurinn í skóginum (Text: Halldór Kiljan Laxness)
• Varpaljóð á Hörpu (Text: Jakobína Sigurðardóttir)
• Við Kínafljót (Text: Þorgeir Sveinbjarnarson)
• Vökuró (Text: Jakobína Sigurðardóttir)
• Vorljóð á Ýli (Text: Jakobína Sigurðardóttir)
• Vort líf (Text: Aðalsteinn Kristmundsson)

Her compositions have been recorded and issued on CD, including:

• Vidar - Orchestral Works (2003) Smekkleysa, ASIN: B0000D9Y6S
• Tapestry of Dreams (2003) Smekkleysa, ASIN: B0000AQVMO