Scott Yoo learns about how Icelandic percussion instruments helped create and inspire “Helka” by Jón Leifs.
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TRANSCRIPT
In the basement of Harpa is the percussion room where Eggert Pals and Steef van Oosterhout showed me some instruments made for that Iceland sound.
Jón Leifs.
I know him.
You've heard of him?
- Of course.
He's famous here.
Yes, he is, actually.
What does Hekla mean?
Hekla is a volcano, probably one of our most renowned volcano.
So this is a big piece?
- It is a very big piece.
It was nominated at some point to be the largest pieces ever written.
Oh, really?
It requires a big orchestra.
Uh, 18 or 19 percussionists.
That's like more percussionists than first violinists.
With everything ranging from snare drums to cannons and chains.
Chains too?
Chains too.
Are these the chains?
These are actually the chains.
You just pull it to play it?
Would you do me the honors?
One, two, three, four.
[chains rattling] This is probably not for the softer parts.
- Right.
Does this show up in Hekla as well?
This is there as well.
This is not very subtle.
Not really, no, no.
He writes for a big hammer played on wood, any wood.
I can give you a demonstration.
Okay.
[hammer smashes on wood] Oh!
God!
This is mezzo piano.
And what is this made out of?
This is made from a piece of driftwood.
Which... Yeah, there's a lot of driftwood in Iceland.
It's beautiful.
This is.
It's an instrument.
It's beautiful.
Instruments should look nice.
Yeah, it does really nice.
Hey, what are these symbol looking things here?
These are the scudi.
They are shields.
Musical shields.
Can I try this one?
Absolutely.
[banging] I probably don't have your technique.
You're hired.
- You're hired.
Wow.
Excellent.
So this does this show up in a Leifs piece as well?
Yes, several.
Several?
We premiere these pieces.
Can I hear some Leifs just with some of these percussion instruments to sort of understand the sound?
Yeah, well call the team in.
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