Alice Sara Ott – “Odi et Amo/Krókódíll”

Jóhannsson: Beauty (From “Blind Massage”) [Performed on Piano]

Icelander Jóhann Jóhannsson was a gifted musician who left us too soon. Late last year, pianist Alice Sara Ott released two EPs on Deutsche Gramophon, entitled From Englabörn and Film Themes, on which she played excerpts from the composer’s film music. These and more of his music are part of the album project Piano Works, which will be released on March 6th. Although it may make one miss Jóhannsson even more, the excerpts are well chosen and well served by Ott’s poignant performances.

Jóhannsson: Odi et Amo/Krókódíll (Performed on Piano)

Hildur Guðnadóttir – Where To From

Another Icelandic composer has a new release on DG. Hildur Guðnadóttir, who is also an accomplished cellist, is the featured artist on Where To From. Sinuous strings and ethereal vocals bring to life music that Guðnadóttir initially found while exercising, recording snippets into her smartphone. These have germinated into compelling full-fledged compositions. Her collaborators are distinguished artists in their own right, including vocalists ElseTorp and Jessika Kenney, violist Eyvind Kang,viola da gamba player Liam Byrne, and cellist Clare O’Connell. In addition to playing the cello, Guðnadóttir sings on the recording. The interactivity here suggests a strong bond aming the musicians, which is in keeping with Guðnadóttir’s creative practice. Indeed, she has been involved in a variety of collaborations, including with Jóhann Jóhannsson, and has scored films such as The Joker, Sicario, and the HBO miniseries Chernobyl. Media composition is a quintessentially collaborative endeavor, and its emphasis on emotional immediacy is evident here too, in involving and emotive compositions.

• Christian Carey