Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain

  • str(6.6.4.4.2)
  • violin
  • 30 min

Programme Note


'Poemi' is based on three allegorical paintings by Marc Chagall, each of which is a masterly depiction of a well-known text the Old Testament: The Dream of Jacob, The Sacrifice of Isaac and Jacob in Combat with the Angel. My intention in writing the work was to compose a virtuoso piece for violin and string orchestra, which would recreate in music the poetic essence of Chagall’s paintings.

The soloist is at the centre of the ‘musical stage’ throughout, with the orchestra providing a constantly changing ‘scenery’. The music progresses from the tranquillity of the Dream in the first movement, through the drama of the Sacrifice in the second, to the fast and tense Combat with the Angel which forms the final movement.

'Poemi' was awarded the Nordic Council Prize in March 1986.

© Haflidi Hallgrímsson

Media

Haflidi Hallgrimsson: Poemi - For Violin And String Orchestra, Op.7*, Mvt. 1
Haflidi Hallgrimsson: Poemi - For Violin And String Orchestra, Op.7*, Mvt. 2
Haflidi Hallgrimsson: Poemi - For Violin And String Orchestra, Op.7*, Mvt. 3

Scores

Discography

Four Icelandic Orchestra Works

Four Icelandic Orchestra Works
  • Label
    Iceland Music Information Centre
  • Catalogue Number
    511013
  • Conductor
    Petri Sakari
  • Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir, violin
  • Released
    2017

Written in Sand

Written in Sand
  • Label
    Simax
  • Catalogue Number
    PSC1301
  • Conductor
    Per Kristian Skalstad
  • Ensemble
    Risør Festival Strings
  • Soloist
    Sølve Sigerland, violin
  • Released
    2011
Title Unavailable
  • Label
    ITM
  • Catalogue Number
    ITM 6-02
  • Conductor
    Petri Sakari
  • Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir, violin
  • Released
    1989
Title Unavailable
  • Label
    Victoria
  • Catalogue Number
    VCD 19014
  • Conductor
    Christian Eggen
  • Ensemble
    Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
  • Soloist
    Terje Tønnesen, violin