Gísli Magnússon: Akvocirkulado

Gísli Magnússon studied composition at the Iceland Academy of Arts, and later at the Amsterdam Conservatory, from which he graduated with a master’s degree in 2016. His main composition teachers have been Gunnar Andreas Kristinsson, Hróðmar Ingi Sigurbjörnsson, Atli Ingólfsson, Joël Bons, Willem Jeths and Wim Henderickx. Gísli has also studied organ with Björn Steinar Sólbergsson and harpsichord with Tilman Gey.

Gísli frequently seeks inspiration in the nature of his home country, Iceland, and often paints clear and direct pictures of natural phenomena in tones. His works have for example been described in the following words:

“He creates soundscapes and has a great interest in the specific colors of the various

instruments. There are also great contrasts between baldness and musical bustle. I experience his piece as a journey through a landscape.” – Arnold Marinissen

Gísli’s music has been performed by various musicians and ensembles in Iceland, Sweden and Netherlands, but will now be played for the first time by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

The composer has this to say about his piece:

The title of the work, “Akvocirkulado”, comes from Esperanto, meaning “water cycle”, thus referring to the continuous movement of water on our planet: From the ocean, it evaporates to the atmosphere, then rains back to the ground, and eventually flows down the streams and rivers, back to the ocean. – This is the process that I try to depict in the music.