Jón Ásgeirsson (1928–2025)

Jón Ásgeirsson, composer, teacher and a vital voice in Icelandic music, passed away at the age of 97 on the 21st of November 2025.

Jón studied with Árni Kristjánsson, Dr. Victor Urbancic and Jón Þórarinsson at the Reykjavík College of Music. He continued his education at the Royal Scottish College of Music in Glasgow, and at the Guildhall School of Music in London. In 1996, he was appointed Professor of Music at the College of Education in Iceland.

He composed numerous large-scale works, including the operas Þrymskviða, Galdra-Loftur, and the ballet Blindisleikur, alongside orchestral pieces, concertos, and chamber music. His output of vocal and choral music was equally rich, and songs such as Maístjarnan, Vorvísa, and Hjá lygnri móðu have become cornerstones of Icelandic vocal repertoire.

Here you can listen to the works in this collection.