Reading the Landscape (2018)

Site-specific works made on residency at Skaftfell Art Center, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, October and November 2018.

Works explore the people and places of East Iceland, primarily through graphic scores and performance videos.

GRAPHIC SCORES

The graphic score collection of ‘Reading the Landscape’ (flexible chamber ensembles and durations) contains 12 works and can be played in sections or whole; average performance of several works is ~20'.

Premiered by Tenth Intervention in New York, NY, May 2019 and additional works premiered by Playground Ensemble, 2021.

Each graphic score comes with a ‘key’ to realization in various levels of specificity. Sample pages are below.

SNAPCHAT CHORUS

any number of smartphone users, duration variable (approx. 3-6 minutes). Premiered by Tenth Intervention, May 2019.

The final piece in the graphic score collection is ‘Snapchat Chorus’, which evolved from having to create a work for a non-musician audience. The work creates overlapping loops of sound using Snapchat or Instagram apps, and blends them into a “chorus”.

A work for any number of smartphone users, by Nathan Hall, composed on residency in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, 2018. 'Snapchat Chorus' came into existence from testing out experimental musical pieces for non-musicians, or people who are afraid to sing or perform.

VIDEO WORKS

Video works include Dvergasteinn (Telling Secrets to the Elves); Still Fjord, a looping video that looks like a painting; Bergmál (“Reverberations”), a live performance inside an abandoned fish factory silo; Quints, a quasi-improvised performance on fifths with recorder and voice; and Velkominn Heim, a set of origami boats set out into the fjord while singing an old fisherman’s tune “Welcome Home”.

A short performance video where I tell my friend's secrets to the Elves at Dvergasteinn. This stone is reportedly an elf church that moved itself across the fjörd when the new church came to town. Part of the "Reading the Landscape" project by composer artist Nathan Hall made on residency at Skaftfell Art Center, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland 2018.

Live performance of a new work for inside a silo in East Iceland, using the 15+ seconds of reverb to build chords and fluttering sounds in the space. Part of the 'Reading the Landscape' works at Skaftfell Art Center, Seyðisfjörður. Dedicated to Madeleine Reid. Composed and performed by Nathan Hall.

A documentation video of a performance by composer-artist Nathan Hall, sending small paper boats out into the fjord while singing the Icelandic song 'Sjomannavalsinn' or "Fisherman's Waltz". Each boat has the name of a friend or relative and inside it contains something special relating to that person.

A short quasi-improvised performance in a silo in East Iceland. Nathan Hall, composer and voice, Philipp Valenta, recorder. Created as part of Skaftfell Art Center residency, 2018. For more information: nathan-hall.net. Part of the project "Reading the Landscape".

150 HANDKERCHIEFS

‘150 Handkerchiefs’ is a set of 150 small watercolors and sound loop (8’) of all the handkerchiefs that Petra of Stöðvarfjörður and her sister gave each other. It cooincides with phrases about my recently-passed grandmother.

A spoken text and processed accordion piece by composer Nathan Hall about his grandmothers. Texts written by Nathan Hall and Petra of Stöðvarfjörður, spoken dialogue performed by Lilja Kjerúlf and Tora Sanden Døskeland. Accordion lent by Benedikt Hermansson. Composed to accompany 150 watercolor drawings of handkerchiefs given between Petra and her sister. Written on residency at Skaftfell Art Center, Seyðisfjörður, Iceland, 2018. For more information: nathan-hall.net as part of "Reading the Landscape".

PERFORMANCE REALIZATIONS

interpretations of the graphic scores and works from ‘Reading the Landscape’.

"This graphic score is a visual interpretation of a one-hour sound collage of everyday sounds recorded in Tbilisi, Georgia. In effect it turns those sounds i...

Also explore Seth Rozakoff’s using ‘Hekla’ graphic score as compositional material on his Wordpress site.

"This graphic score is a visual interpretation of a one-hour sound collage of everyday sounds recorded in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland. In effect it turns those so...

BEHIND THE SCENES, INSPIRATION, SKETCHES

This residency was funded in part thanks to generous Kickstarter donors:

Adam Lawson Alan Fletcher Alessandra Alisha Kwon Alison Connolly Amelia Amy Bickerton Andrew Forrest Probst Lynes Andy Hackbarth Andy Smith Ann Andzel Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti Anthony & Itamar Becky Wareing Steele Bill Arning Brandon Peter Masterman Brian Colonna Bridget Duzzie Caitlin Rumery Carrie and Bradly Richards Cassandra Cox Catherine Charles Powell Chris Rose Chris Rule Cobus du Toit Conor Brown Corrina Price Crow Messier Cydney Payton Daniel Bruning David Bernabo David Dabbon David E. Farrell Don Collings Don Fodness Douglas Lynes Drew Austin Drew Butler Edward Corcoran Elizabeth Katherine Castor Elizabeth Rugg Eric Brink Erin Rollman Gabriel Lubell Glenn Einschlag Greg & Ginger Burrell Hajnal Pivnick Holly Wilkins Jack Kurutz Jack Parton Jacob Swanson Jaime Gullotti Janet M Jensen Jennifer Kallus Jes Olson Jessica Cicchino and Robert Oberreuter Jessica Jeanne Jim Cassaro jmills1020@gmail.com John Drumheller Karl Kister and Mary Caulkins Kate Casolaro and Rudy Colberg Keith Sherwood Kelly Thompson Lauren Patterson Lauren Turek Lindsey Miller Lindsey O'Leary Liz Keller Liz Kellermeyer Liz Reid Lynnette Carlson Marc Hughes Mark Garry Mark Mangini Matthew Evancho Matthew LeBauer Matthew Rugg Michael Theodore Michelle Reilly Morgan Hofmann Nikki Rosato Olivia Moseley Patrick Burke Paula Rosen Peter Cain Rachel Ray Rex Robin Wood Rook Behr Ryan Connell Ryan Seward Sally Bozzuto Sarah Slater Sergio Preston Shannon Kelly Stacey Kay & Cav the Great Tali Gonzalez tinnathor@gmail.com Tony de Mare Trillium Ensemble Tristan McKay WL

Additionally, Reading the Landscape was supported by New Music USA, made possible by annual program support and/or endowment gifts from Helen F. Whitaker Fund & Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

New Music USA’s page on the project is: https://www.newmusicusa.org/projects/reading-the-landscape