Dynjandi - Gulli Björnsson (UNBOUND) performed by JIJI

How can you capture the beauty and the intensity of a magnificent Icelandic waterfall? What would it sound like?
This is one of the most challenging pieces I've ever performed.
The piece is called DYNJANDI and is part of UNBOUND, a commissioning project/album concept/recital program and it is to explore what virtuosity looks/sounds like in the 21st century.
I've asked 8 amazing composers from all over the world; Australia, Brazil, Iceland, Latvia, and the United States, to each write me a virtuosic solo guitar piece. Fast arpeggios, fast scales, or complex rhythm? It's totally up to the composers' interpretation. I'm challenged to push my limits as a guitarist and I'm very excited for this challenge. Here is a text from Gulli Björnsson, the composer of DYNJANDI that you are about to hear.
“When Jiji asked me to compose something for her album she asked for something virtuosic. I remember saying back "are you sure? Ok, I'm going to make you practice a lot then!".
As I was contemplating what to compose I was driving from a recording session that I did in the west-fjords of Iceland (my home country), an area I'd never really been to before. In an uninhabited fjord I saw the most amazing sight, the magnificent waterfall Dynjandi (or Fjallfoss) near Hrafnseyri.
The intense beauty of the waterfall stuck with me and became my inspiration as I tried to capture the essence of this waterfall in some way through virtuosic music. Dynjandi cascades down a mountainside creating a total of 7 waterfalls, the form of the music is in 7 sections. The core of the work is two voice ostinato-based counterpoint that’s presented in three different ways throughout the piece: spiral arpeggios, fugal counterpoint and clusters. I was thinking of how the water travels down the mountain side; the irregular spiral arpeggios of the piece represent the different irregular sub-sections of each waterfall, the slow sections represent the still pools between the waterfalls and the clusters link it together.”

Video: Fourten Media
Audio: Gulli Björnsson

[cathleensibley]

Virtuoso galore! Brava! Love the inspiration of the waterfall in Iceland! Gorgeous.

[HarryVerey]

Beautiful and very 'guitaristic' piece .Great playing and excellent audio recording.

[ЯнЛелив]

Jiji has the Firm Hands and Spirit..
Luck.. to be student of Jiji.. I think..
🍃

[michaelwrinn]

Remarkable. Hadn't known of you or Björnsson prior to hearing this, but am stunned. Picked up the score after listening again (ha, yes, there will be some work ahead). Thanks to both of you for bringing this piece into the repertoire.

[savvashadjisofokleous]

Beautiful piece and performance Jiji ❤

[drogers]

Lovely piece and great playing. I’m looking forward to your concert in Nashville on Sunday

[jsguitargeek]

A remarkable piece - and even better performance. By (yet) another young, brilliant classical guitarist - the "liner notes" (show more) were just terrific, and speak to the intellect & emotional maturity of JiJi. Oh and the video production is first class

[cs]

Awesome piece and awesome interpretation as well. compliments to you jiji and to gulli for your outstanding work.

[dslbit]

Meu Deus! Que lindo. Adorei o estilo desse compositor...

[jmardinly]

Incredible composition, performed brilliantly!

[fridaynightsakesashimi]

WOW!!! I'm so happy to have found this. Absolutely amazing. Bravo!

[masayohonjo]

Mesmerizing! I've been hooked since I discovered Jiji through New West Symphony, and this song. Stunningly beautiful sensing the spirit of water.

[gemtalentscout]

Impressive talent and amazing performance!! Really love it.

[FranciscoBerkemeier]

This is breath-taking. Such a sweet and beautiful composition. Love the bass timbre in particular.

[schmurble]

this was actually so nice! it feels like I'm being lulled to sleep by a storm

[Peterlb]

Marvelous! Loved it...absolutely loved it!

[nilsondias]

Que som fantástico de seu violão. Parabéns !

[DavidHands]

I like these more melodic compositions.