Páll Ragnar Pálsson

Páll Ragnar Pálsson (born July 25, 1977) is an Icelandic composer. Studies During 1993 to 2004 he was a guitarist in Maus, an Icelandic progressive indie rock band, but took a decisive move towards contemporary classical music in 2004, entering the composition department of Iceland Academy of the Arts (LHÍ). In addition to a graduation chamber piece Pálsson wrote his BA thesis on Estonian composer Arvo Pärt about whom he has later given lectures and radio programs. Páll continued his studies in 2007 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, under Helena Tulve, a composer with distinctive musical aesthetics. There he obtained a master’s degree in 2009 and a PhD in 2014. In 2013 Pálsson moved back to Iceland, but maintained a close contact with Estonia. He adopted his teacher’s intuitive method of composing. Supremacy of Peace for string orchestra represented Estonia at the International Rostrum of Composers in Prague in 2013 and The ISCM World Music Days in Ljubljana. Professional career Since returning to Iceland, Pálsson’s music frequently depicts movements in nature paralleled to similar processes within human psyche, particularly present in Quake, a piece for solo cello and