The Music
Precious Dances (1983) for guitar, flute, clarinet, cello and piano. Atli Heimir Sveinsson (1938)
The piece is a somewhat symmetrical suite a steady progression of snapshots; mental visions inspired by the peacefulness and beauty of the sea and the islands on Breiðafjörður. I often spend time composing on the island of Flatey. This is a chamber piece in eleven movements, the guitar playing throughout them all accompanied by different instruments in each one. They are all stylized dances as in the six-part suites of the Baroque period. (Atli Heimir Sveinsson; from the CD brochure).

Hot Spring Birds (1984) for flute, guitar and cello. Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (1938)
Nowadays hot spring birds are relegated to myths and nonsense: The last natural scientist who paid them any tribute died 200 years ago. Up until then, they had existed they were seen swimming on those steamy, sulphurous pools. Nobody ever saw them fly. They behaved in some manner that could be likened to ducks. Many a weary traveller saw them pruning feathers, teaching their offspring, ducking for food. Perhaps they were just made up – perhaps – but so was this piece... (Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson; from the CD brochure).

Tristía (1984) for guitar and cello. Hafliði Hallgrímsson (1941)
The work was written to be performed by the Icelandic guitarist Pétur Jónasson and myself at the Arts Festival in Reykjavík in June of 1984. This suite of seven short pieces extensively explores the sonorities of both instruments, creating in many of the movements some delicately shaded colours. Memories of my native country of Iceland were the inspiration for this almost surrealistic musical sketchbook. Even though these seven short movements are simple in character, they are technically difficult; the balance problems are considerable between the two very different instruments which almost equally share the musical material. (Hafliði Hallgrímsson; from the CD brochure).

Pétur Jónasson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. At the age of nine he began studying the guitar with Eythór Thorláksson at the Gardaer School of Music, later continuing under Manuel López Ramos at the Estudio de Arte Guitarrístico in Mexico City. Since graduating in 1980, he has also studied with Abel Carlevaro, David Russell and José Luis González, from whom he received private instruction in Spain for two years. In 1986, Mr. Jónasson was awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Government to study with José Luis Rodrigo at the Santiago de Compostela  Master Classes. That same year he was one of only twelve guitarists selected to perform for Maestro Andrés Segovia in the Segovia Master Classes and Commemorative at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Mr. Jónasson has given numerous solo performances in all the Nordic Countries, and in Great Britain, Continental Europe, North America, Australasia and the Far East. He often records for radio and television. His records and CDs include works which have been composed especially for him by Iceland´s foremost composers.

Pétur Jónasson received the Sonning Award for young Nordic musicians in Copenhagen in 1984, and in 1990, he was the first Icelandic soloist to be nominated for the Music Prize of the Nordic Council.