Saman

Icelandic cellist, vocalist, and composer, Hildur Gudnadottir (see Leyfdu Ljosinu) has just released her fourth album, "Saman". The word "saman" means "together", and on this album she blends her cello and gentle voice into an ethereal musical rendering that is truly sublime. Really, really beautiful. From the album notes:

All tracks composed, performed and recorded by Hildur Guðnadóttir in Berlin, except Heyr Himnasmiður (track 4), composed by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, lyrics by Kolbeinn Tumason. Cello made by David Wiebe in 1991. [Cello nr 49]. Track 6, bass by Skúli Sverrisson, string fretted cello built by Hans Jóhannsson, resonated through two grand pianos. Tracks 1, 4 and 6 recorded by Francesco Donadello. All tracks mixed by Francesco Donadello and Hildur Guðnadóttir at Vox-Ton Studio, Berlin.

String fretted cello resonated through two grand pianos? Definitely worth a listen.

Music III

Icelandic cellist and composer Hildur Gudnadottir has just released a spectacular new album, Leyfdu Ljosinu (Icelandic for "Allow the Light"). Recorded live in a single take with no post-production manipulations, the work uses electronics and loops to multiply her cello and voice into a stark, yet breathtaking, world of sound. Spacious. Buoyant. This is an amazing piece of music. 

[NOTE: Originally posted August 27, 2012].

Subphylum: Medusozoa

A short clip of a jellyfish performing at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut. The subphylum name was coined by Linnaeus to describe the non-polyp life stage of this creature which is a large, pulsating gelatinous bell with long trailing tentacles. [NOTE: Music by Hildur Gudnadottir (see Leyfdu Ljosinu)].