Vidar, Jorunn (1918—)

Icelandic composer, pianist and teacher often featured on Icelandic radio and television. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 7, 1918; studied music first with her mother and Pall Isolfsson; later enrolled at the Reykjavik College of Music, studying with Arni Kristjansson and graduating in 1936; studied at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik, 1936–38; continued musical education at the Juilliard School in New York, 1943–45; studied piano in Vienna with Viola Tern , 1959–60.

The volcanic North Atlantic island of Iceland boasts perhaps the highest literacy rate in the world (99.9%), and with a population of only 200,000 may well be the smallest nation to have a language and literature that is over 1,000 years old. Icelanders are also immensely proud of the fact that their Parliament (Althing, or general assembly), which first met in the year 930 ce, makes them the oldest continuous practitioners of democracy in the world. Women have made great strides in Iceland in the 20th century, including Vigdís Finnbogadóttir 's election to the office of president. In culture, Icelandic women too have been able to successfully assert themselves. One of the pioneer women in Icelandic music was the multitalented Jorunn Vidar who left a deep impression on Icelandic culture. Her compositions were able to combine traditional Icelandic melodies with the subtleties of the prevailing international style. Some of her best-known works include the ballet Fire (1951), Five Meditations on Icelandic Themes for piano (1965), and a Suite for Violin and Piano to commemorate the 1,100-year-old settlement of Iceland (1973).

John Haag , Athens, Georgia