Lárus Halldór Grímsson began studying music in 1971 at the Reykjavík College of Music.
Here he basically studied the flute. During these years of study, he played the flute and keyboards in several bands, like Eik
(1974-79). In 1979 he started studying at the Institute for Sonology in Utrecht, the Netherlands, primarily
with Jaap Vink. After completing his studies in 1984, he continued working at the Institute.
On his music
Although he also wrote some instrumental compositions, most of Grímsson's early music is electronic, or written for
tape and one or more traditional instruments. In the music one can hear different influences, such as avant-garde experiments,
free tonal elements as well as repetitive rhythms and themes. "For Lárus Grímsson, all the electronic
apparatus notwithstanding, is no laboratory worker in a white coat. He does not study for study's sake, but to make music".
(quote from liner notes to ITM CD).
Since 1990 Lárus has been writing more non-electronic works.
Principal Works
1980 - Þráfylgni (persistant Pursuit), tape
1981 - Og þá riðu hetjur um héruð (Then heroes roamed the country), tape
1981 - Rumsk (Stir), strings, 6 flutes and 4 percussionists
1981 - Sambúðarsundurþykkja (Discord in Cohabitation), harpsichord, French horn and tape
1982-83 - Winter Romanticism, tape
1984 - Back to the Beginning Again?, bassoon and tape
1984 - Eitt sinn poppari ávallt poppari, 2 guitars, piano, harpsichord and tape
1985 - I Sing the Body Electric, chorus and tape
1986 - Amalgam, tape
1987 - By the Skin of My Teeth, harpsichord (synthesizer) and tape
1987 - Le Voeu, tape
1988 - Kiss of The Spiderwoman, tape
1989 - The Tempest, tape
1990 - Hotel Thingvellir, tape
1991 - Farvegir, piano
1992 - Clarinet Quartet
1993 - Tales from a Forlorn Fortress, bassoon, violin, viola an cello
......... - Slúðurdálkurinn (The Gossip Column), clarinet solo
......... - 'Tis a Stairway, Not a Street, guitar and flute
......... - Frískir menn og fölar meyjar (Lusty Lads and Dainty Damsels), 7 winds, 2 percussionists and
bass guitar
Other works include music for theatre plays, radio plays, TV plays and feature
films such as Hringurinn (The Ring Road) and Skammdegi (Dark Season)
Recordings
Amalgam, The Tempest, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, By the Skin of my Teeth, Le Voeu, Hotel Thingvellir and Winter
Romanticism, ITM 7-03
