Further Information

About Jón Nordal´s organworks
Jón Nordal´s organworks are five and cover a long period of his career as a composer. They are all connected to former organists of Reykjavik Cathedral. The first piece, the prelude Kær Jesú Kristí (Dear Lord Jesus Christ) from 1945, was a gift to the then cathedral organist, Páll Ísólfsson. The piece was lost for a long time but was found in autumn 2015 at the national library. Páll Ísólfsson commissioned a further work from Jón, Fantasia, which was composed in 1954. Later, Jón Nordal wrote the Sálmforleikur um sálm sem aldrei var sunginn (Choral Prelude on a Psalm which was Never Sung) for Ragnar Björnsson, also a former cathedral organist. Jón Nordal's best known organ work is his Toccata, composed in 1985 for the inauguration of the new cathedral organ and in memory of Páll Ísólfsson. Jón Nordal's final work for organ, Postludium from 2001, was written in memory of Ragnar Björnsson.
This cd honours Jón Nordal who celebrated his 90th birthday in March 2016.

Recordings: Hallgrímskirkja, February 2016
Producer: Jón Skuggi
Audio Engineer: Jón Skuggi
Design: Fanney Sizemore

About Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky
The well known piece, Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, was originally composed for piano but has also been transcribed for symphonic orchestra and played in various versions, e.g. the famous version of Emerson, Lake and Palmer among others. This recording is an organ transcription made by KeithJohn.
The music is very illustrative and brings the pictures to life for the listener. The piece was composed after Mussorgsky had been to an art exhibition which was held in memory of his good friend, Victor Hartmann. In the year 1873 Hartmann died of a heart attack only 39 years old. Only half a year later an art exhibition was held showing his works where Mussorgsky was among the guests.
The diverse sounds of the organ repaint Mussorgskys pictures in a very interesting and colorful way.

Recordings: Hallgrímskirkja, August 2010
Producer: Sigurður Rúnar Jónsson
AudioEngineer: Sigurður Rúnar Jónsson
Design: Fanney Sizemore

About the performer
Guðný Einarsdóttir started her piano studies at an early age, graduating from the Reykjavík College of Music and as organist from the National Church's Music School, where her main teacher was Marteinn H. Friðriksson. Guðný completed her church music degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, where her teachers were Lasse Ewerlöf and Bine K. Bryndorf. Whilst still studying, Guðný directed the chamber choir Staka and is one of the founder members of that choir. After completing her studies, Guðný was the organist for the Danish congregation in Paris, while at the same time continuing further studies with the French organists Eric Lebrun and Sofie Veronique-Cauchefer Choplin. Guðný has also attended masterclasses with some ofthe foremost organ virtuosi.
Guðný performs widely at home and abroad as soloist, accompanist and choral director. At present, she is organist at Hjallakirkja Church in Kópavogur.