Einar Torfi Einarsson
Einar Torfi Einarsson was born in Iceland (1980). His music can be characterized by extreme contrasts both dynamically as well as structurally – described as contrasting sound-objects displaying a ‘haptic’ quality – and has demonstrated a great interest in the discovery and experimentation of extended performance techniques. This interest has gradually developed a keen focus on the physicality of performance, to the point where the physical action (movement/intensity) overrides the importance of sound. Furthermore, recent works increasingly tend to explore the concept of time/duration/temporality, especially in conjunction with repetition.
He studied initially classical guitar and composition (with Guðmundur Hafsteinsson) at Reykjavik College of Music. In 2005 he continued his composition studies with Fabio Nieder at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he later studied also with Richard Ayres and Willem Jeths, graduating with a MMus degree in 2009. Einarsson also studied with Beat Furrer at the Kunstuniversität in Graz. In 2008, Einarsson was selected to participate in the Ligeti Academy in Amsterdam organized by Asko | Schönberg Ensemble. He has attended and received lectures, masterclasses and private lessons from a.o. Salvatore Sciarrino, Brian Ferneyhough, Emmanuel Nunes and Jonathan Harvey. He is currently a PhD student (2009-12) on the Jonathan Harvey Scholarship at the CeReNeM, University of Huddersfield, supervised by Aaron Cassidy, where he has also worked as a part-time lecturer in composition.
Einar Torfi has worked with several ensembles such as Klangforum Wien, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Elision Ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble, Asko Ensemble, Insomnio Ensemble, Ensemble Adapter, Holland Symfonia and Caput Ensemble. His music was featured on the International Rostrum of Composers and has been performed and broadcasted in Scandinavia, Netherlands, France, Austria and Germany.
Einarsson has received various grants from Musica Nova foundation Iceland, Composers Fund 365 and Reykjavik City. During the Dutch Music Days 2008 his piece Nine Tensions was awarded the Henriëtte Bosmansprijs 2008. He was a finalist for the Buma Toonzetters Prize 2009, winner in the category: "best ensemble piece". His orchestra piece Apertures was selected for the Young Composers Project 2009 of Holland Symfonia and premiered on the Gaudeamus Music Week 2009. In 2010 he was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain/IRCAM Reading Panel (Tremplin Commission programme) to write a piece for Ensemble Intercontemporain. Einarsson was 1 of 5 winners in the impuls Composition Competition 2009 and was awarded a commission to write a piece for Klangforum Wien, which was premiered on impuls 2011.
His music has been performed on festivals such as: Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Transit Festival, impuls festival, Dutch Music Days, Gaudeamus Music Week, Time of Music, Dark Music Days, Ung Nordisk Musik and Nordic Music Days.
http://einartorfieinarsson.co.cc/