Stemma (Rhyme) (1997) for orchestra. 9 minutes.
First performance: Reykjavík 1997, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Petri Sakari
Instrumentation: 3.3.3.3-4.3.3.1-perc(2)-hrp-pft(cel)-strings.
Also available for chamber orchestra.

A brilliant and evocative score, unusual among Tómasson´s works in that all the musical material can be traced back to an Icelandic folk song recorded by an ethnomusicologist in 1966. The rapid, chromatic movement of the original folk song, quite unusual for Icelandic folk music, inspired Tómasson to write a scintillating score in which fragments of the original material are repeated and stretched both horizontally and vertically.

“…dazzling whirlwind…” International Record Review, June 2001.

“Conjured up such musical magic that one might almost have believed there was supernatural help involved.” Morgunblaðið (Iceland), August 2003.

For further information please contact Iceland Music Information at itm@mic.is or the composer at hato@simnet.is

Score: STEMMA

Listen to the chamber orhestra version: