Performance History

Fönsun IV is the first known Icelandic work for solo bassoon, composed by Atli Heimir Sveinsson in 1968, shortly after his return from Germany, where he had studied composition.  

Atli Heimir dedicated his composition to Iceland´s first professional bassoonist, Sigurður Markússon, but like many other works it was never performed. Atli Heimir rewrote the piece for Kristín Mjöll in 2008. She premiered the revised version forty years after the original version had been composed.

Later, Michael Kaulartz, the current principal bassoonist of the ISO, premiered the original version at Mengi in 2015.

Program Notes

The Icelandic word fönsun refers to the artistic composition of disparate parts into a whole and is essentially equivalent to the Latin compositio. The word has fallen out of use in modern Icelandic, but was used in earlier times to refer to the practice of distributing weight evenly across the back of a pack horse. The work revolves around a single note. It spreads out in different directions, but always returns and becomes itself again.

– Kristín Mjöll Jakobsdóttir, 2015

Other Works with Bassoon

Bassoon Concerto

• Trobar Clus  for bassoon and orchestra (1980)

Bassoon Quartet

• Quartetto per fagotti  for bassoon quartet (2003)

Chamber Works

• 5+3=1 Unity  for octet (2005)
  flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, piano, violin, cello
• Alla Turca by Mozart  for octet (2005)
  flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, piano, violin, cello
• Five Wheel Drive  for woodwind quintet (1987)
• God´s Children  (Dimmalimm),  theatre music (1987)
  flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, violin and cello
• Icelandic Rap VIII  (Rondo Fantastico)  for woodwind quintet (2000)
• Miniaturen  for woodwind quintet and percussion (1960, revised 1986)
• Septet  for flute, clarinet, basson, violin, viola and cello (1976)
• Tanzfiguren  for woodwind quintet and accordion (1992)