Two Sides [Double Album]

Two Sides is a Double Album by Barokkbandið Brák on the Sono Luminus label.  It presents two contrasting sides of music-making. On the first album Barokkbandið Brák performs their core repertoire of Italian and Swedish Baroque music while seeking to expand the repertoire for historical instruments by commissioning new works by up and coming Icelandic composers.

The second album showcases new Icelandic music written specially for the ensemble. All of these works share the same sound world as all the music is performed on historical instruments from the baroque era.

Barokkbandið Brák was founded in 2015 by Icelandic violinists Elfa Rún Kristinsdóttir, Guðbjörg Hlín Guðmundsdóttir, and Laufey Jensdóttir. The 13 member ensemble mainly consists of Icelandic musicians who all share a passion for historically informed performance of Renaissance and Baroque music and seek to bring the music from this period to a wide audience in Iceland and abroad. Since its founding the group has held numerous concerts in Iceland with great success.

Most of Brák’s performances have been recorded and broadcasted by the Icelandic National Radio (RÚV). Brák has been regularly nominated for the yearly Icelandic Music Awards, and in 2020 won the award for “Concert of the Year”. Barokkbandið Brák constantly seeks new concepts and frequently collaborates with renowned singers, dancers and instrumentalists from all over Europe to expand the range of possibilities.

This album is available in Stereo DSD 128, DSD 64, and DXD. It is not available on SACD.

Barokkbandio Brak
Elfa Rún Kristinsdóttir – Lead Violin
Gróa Margrét Valdimarsdóttir – Violin
Guðbjartur Hákonarson – Violin
Guðbjörg Hlín Guðmundsdóttir – Violin
Laufey Jensdóttir – Violin
Sólveig Vaka Eyþórsdóttir – Violin
Gunnhildur Daðadóttir – Violin
Guðrún Hrund Harðardóttir – Viola
Þóra Sveinsdóttir – Viola
Steinunn Arnbjörg Stefánsdóttir – Cello
Guðný Jónasdóttir – Cello
Richard Korn – Bass
Halldór Bjarki Arnarson – Harpsichord