The project is inspired by the moment before the realization of something that drastically changes your life, the moment of just being, existing in the moment.

That moment in time is free and full, mindfulness-ish and unaffected by misery, sorrow, regret, shame, anxiety and depression. In my mind it is bright and has a sense of nostalgia.

The title also refers to a daily tradition on Icelandic radio Rás 1, where a song, “last song before the news” would be played just before the news hour at noon. The song would typically be an Icelandic one, sometimes a lullaby, a love song or an ode to scary and gorgeous nature. Or an Icelandic traditional, sometimes an Italian canzone or a Scandinavian sorrow.

Jórunn Viðar’s piece Icelandic Suite sums up all these elements, a piece written for the 2000 years anniversary of inhabitation in Iceland in 1974.

The lightness and the longing are with us throughout the program except in the title piece of mine, Last Song before the News, where apocalyptic visions are awfully obvious and take over early on.

The album is dedicated to my father, Sveinbjörn Rafnsson, whose lightness and passion for music, poetry and history along with his sense of humor has been a lifeline to many people.

Una Sveinbjarnardóttir

1. Unmeasured Prelude No. 7 1:55
Louis Couperin (1626-1661)
arr. Una Sveinbjarnardóttir & Tinna Þorsteinsdóttir

Three Marian Prayers
2.       Máríuvísur (Song for Maria) 2:40
3.       Maríukvæði (Poem for Maria) 2:56
4.       Haustvísur til Máríu (Autumn Song for Maria) 1:45
Atli Heimir Sveinsson (1938-2019)

5. Melodie 2:38
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
arr. Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)

Icelandic Suite
6.       Ávarp (Prologue) 3:07
7.       Óttusöngur (Serenade) 2:38
8.       Þjóðlag (Traditional) 3:03
9.       Fiðlulag (Violin Song) 3:21
10.      Vikivaki (Dance) 3:26
Jórunn Viðar (1918-2017)

11. I Ensomme Stunde 2:57
Ole Bull (1810-1880)
arr. Una Sveinbjarnardóttir

12. Meditation 4:10
Jules Massenet (1842-1912)

13. Winter 1:22
Karólína Eiríksdóttir (b. 1951)

14. In a Dream 3:00
Magnús Blöndal Jóhannsson (1925-2005)

15. Lullaby 1:11
Magnús Blöndal Jóhannsson

16. Aubade Provencale 2:20
Louis Couperin
arr. Fritz Kreisler

17. Ave Maria 1:21
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

18. Anima Processional 2:46
Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)

19. Last Song before the News 4:25
Una Sveinbjarnardóttir (b. 1975)

Total Time: 51:11

Total time: 51:11
Release date: July 23rd, 2021
UPC: 053479224828

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Quotes & Reviews

“The heart of the disc is the Icelandic Suite (1974) by the doyenne of Icelandic music, Jórunn Viar (1918-2017). Its five movements form a vivid tapestry of Europe’s north-western island, concluding with a spirited dance, the Vikivaki. The suite is in marked contrast to the tiny, concentrated tone picture Winter by Karólina Eiríksdóttir (b1951), a real gem.“ - Guy Rickards, Gramophone

“I could easily make this review shorter… by simply stating that Last Song is the finest, most entertaining, thoughtfully assembled, artfully performed, and skillfully engineered recording of music for violin and piano that I have heard in many years.” - Karl W. Nehring, Classical Candor

“an appealing disc of shorter pieces which seem linked by Sveinbjarnardóttir and Þorsteinsdóttir's approach, with a clearness of purpose, expressiveness of tone but also a sense of avoiding sentimentality. Sveinbjarnardóttir brings a directness to her violin tone that is almost period at times, yet she never plays period-style all the music is integrated into her and Þorsteinsdóttir's singular vision… We end with what might be called the title track, Sveinbjarnardóttir'sLast Song Before the Newswhere the lyricism gives way, finally, to anxiety as the lyrical folk-elements are overlain with more modern layers including a striking prepared piano.” - Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill

“The range of the material on the recording calls on the versatility and virtuosity of both musicians, and they deliver splendidly.” - Ron Schepper, Textura

“The entire volume is unified in ways not often found. The duo soars and does perfect justice to each work. A remarkable effort I would say. Very recommended.” - Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review

“Last Song is a captivating modern chamber collection, beautifully conceived, sensitively performed and luminously recorded.” - Lisa MacKinney, Limelight