The Sheet Music Library of Tónlistarmiðstöð (Nótnaveita Tónlistarmiðstöðvar), the country’s largest collection of sheet music, is now accessible in Icelandic for the first time at notnaveita.is. Previously managed by the Iceland Music Information Centre, the library was relaunched last year under the stewardship of Tónlistarmiðstöð, initially in English. This latest update opens a new gateway for the public into the nation’s musical history.

The Sheet Music Library is both a precious cultural heritage and a living, ever-growing chronicle. Spanning from the nation’s earliest preserved compositions to the latest works of contemporary composers, it houses over 12,000 pieces by around 400 Icelandic composers. In addition to browsing, purchasing, or renting the music, the website features biographies for most composers, making it one of the most comprehensive resources on Icelandic composers available online.

The platform serves professionals and music enthusiasts alike, aiming to facilitate the discovery, research, and performance of Icelandic music, both at home and on the international stage.

Composer of the Month

Among the curated collections is the Composer of the Month series. True to its name, the initiative spotlights one composer each month, offering a 20% discount on all sheet music by the featured author during that period.

The inaugural Composer of the Month is Sigurður Sævarsson, with the Sheet Music Library currently housing 29 of his works. Sigurður is the principal of Nýi Tónlistarskólinn (The New Music School) and stands among the country’s leading composers. His works have garnered well-deserved attention both at home and abroad; notably, he received a nomination for the Icelandic Music Awards in 2012 for his oratorio Hallgrímspassía. Furthermore, in 2022, the album Ice Land: The Eternal Music—released by Harmonia Mundi and featuring works by Sigurður alongside other Icelandic composers—reached number two on the UK classical charts.

Explore the collection and the Composer of the Month at notnaveita.is.

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Sigurður Sævarsson - Composer of the Month

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