A Northern Year

Piano, keyboards, drums, and electronics to chronicle the position of the sun over Reykjavík

A Northern Year, composed by Hafdís Bjarnadóttir and performed by Passepartout Duo, indulges in the music that is hidden in everyday natural phenomena by transforming data about the sun’s position in the sky above Reykjavík into melodies and rhythms for piano, percussion, and electronics.

Beginning and ending at the solstices, the piece follows a cycle that is often a backdrop for life in the north: energetic and bright summers followed by introverted and dark winters.

Alongside the release, Passepartout Duo created a video for Part I (January-June) of A Northern Year. Seeking to further capture light’s interaction in the north, the duo chose renowned installation artist Jame Turrell’s Hardanger Skyspace at Kabuso Art Centre in Øystese, Norway as a location.

A Northern Year was recorded at Kunstnarhuset Messen and Wallcon Lydstudio in Ålvik, Norway. It was mixed and mastered by Sigurdór Guðmundsson at Skonrokk Studios / Skonrokk Mastering. The project was created with support from the Nordic Culture Fund and Nordic Culture Point.

Released on March 20th, 2019