The Origin of the Sun and Moon (2011)

album of sound collages, songs, and chamber music 42'

Texts by Mark Mangini

With musical appearances by Ragnar Kjartansson, Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdóttir, Sally Bozzuto, Magus Tryggvason Eliassen, members of Kór Áskirkja, and many others.

Written on a US Fulbright Fellowship to Iceland.  

A piano and organ in a church, some hand claps, the sounds of waterfalls and fireworks. Here is a series of experiments. Mark sent me a poem, and I wrote a musical response. I sent that music back to him, and he responded to my music. And back and forth. These experiments gave me a sense of continuity through a whole year in Iceland. I was always gathering sounds for the next work, traveling with Mark’s words in my head. The songs are now records of my travels, of the weather in a time and place, sounds of the city and of nature, the musical resources around me, and of the people I met through the year.

Recorded by Nathan Hall at various churches, rooms, and outdoor locations throughout Iceland September 2010–June 2011, except ‘Utan Hringsins’, recorded by Sturla Mio Þórisson of Greenhouse Studios at Áskirkja, Reykjavík, Iceland
Mixed by Nathan Hall & Will Dyar
Mastered by Will Dyar at Hillsboro, Santa Fe, NM
Photography: Nicole Pietrantoni
Art direction: Nathan Hall
Album design and layout: Amy Bickerton
Cape design and construction: Andrea Sisson
Text copyright 2011 Mark Mangini