Icelandic Folk Ensemble
Gig Seeker Pro

Icelandic Folk Ensemble

Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland

Reykjavík, Capital Region, Iceland
Band Folk World

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Tregagás - Album Review"

"Ragnheiður, that has a long time ago proved herself to be one of Iceland's very best singers, shows here many of her best sides and also manages to surprise in some songs.
The arrangements take the listener all over Europe and the playing is both professional and invigorating.
The talented singer plays amusingly with the Icelandic music tradition. A well made album."
- Kjartan Guðmundsson, Fréttablaðið (The News Paper), 2009


"Tregagás - Album Review"

"The music is both lively and fun to listen to. ...Ragnheiður's voice is unique and she knows well how to play with different colors." - Einar Falur Ingólfsson, Morgunblaðið (The Morning Paper), 2009


"Þjóðlög - Album Review"

"Ragnheiður's singing style is beautiful, her articulation in singing is extraordinary.
Ragnheiður is one of the biggest talents to have emerged on the pop scene for a long time: a good instrumentalist, a charming songwriter, a promising lyricist, with a beautiful voice and remarkably wide-ranging ambition." - Páll Baldvin Baldvinsson, Fréttablaðið, (The News Paper) 2006


"Þjóðlög - Album Review"

"Þjóðlög is without a doubt one of the best albums of the year.
It respects the uniqueness of the Icelandic music tradition without being stuck in it.
... I haven't heard such an "Icelandic" album for many years. Even not since Björk made Homogenic." - Helga Þórey Jónsdóttir, Morgunblaðið (The Morning Paper), 2006


Discography

Ragga Gröndal has released the following albums :

Ragnheiður Gröndal (2003)

Vetrarljóð (2004)

After the Rain (2005)

Þjóðlög (2006)

Bella and her black coffee (2008)

Tregagás (2009)


Haukur Gröndal has released the following albums :

Sey mir gesunt - Schpilkas (2003)

Beautiful Monster - Rodent (2004)

So long Sonja - Schpilkas (2005)

Herbert - Rodent (2006)

Nevertheless - Lester Young Tribute Band (2008)

Narodna Muzika - Narodna Muzika (2009)

For more information visit : www.rodentmusic.com

Guðmundur Pétursson (GP) has released the following albums :

Muzak (1998)

Ologies (2008)


Photos

Bio

Since early 2003 singer Ragnheiður Gröndal (Ragga) has been collaborating with her brother Haukur Gröndal exploring Icelandic folkmusic in its various forms. This has resulted in the album "Þjóðlög" released on the "12 Tónar" label in 2006. The album was very well received in Iceland by critics and the general listener as well.

In early 2009 Ragnheiður decided to put together a group under the name "Icelandic Folk Ensemble" in collaboration with Haukur Gröndal and guitarplayer Guðmundur Pétursson (GP).

In this project the focus is on rearranging, in as many and colorful ways possible, the Icelandic folklore with special emphasis on the rhythmic elements in the music. With the use of two percussionists, a guitarist, folklore clarinet and Ragga's mystical interpretations of the often dark and melancholic lyrics and folklore melodies, the group has found a fresh new sound.

The music is inspired by various folkstyles e.g. Irish, Bulgarian and Scandinavian folkmusic.

The result of this can be heard on "Tregagás" the new album released in October 2009 on the Reykjavik based label Sena.

Examples from the album be heard on :

http://www.myspace.com/rgrondal