Bára  Gísladóttir
Photo: Anna Maggý

Bára Gísladóttir

(1989-)

The music of Icelandic double bassist and composer Bára Gísladóttir begins from a consideration of sound as a living being.

Born in Reykjavik in 1989, she learnt violin as a child before taking up the double bass in 2006. She studied composition at the Iceland Academy of the Arts with Hróðmar I. Sigurbjörnsson and Þuríður Jónsdóttir and then at the Conservatorio di Musica ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ in Milan, where she began to compose seriously for the first time, under the guidance of Gabriele Manca and influenced by the music of Sciarrino and other Italian composers. In 2015 she moved to Copenhagen, where she completed her studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Niels Rosing-Schow and Jeppe Just Christensen. She has lived in Copenhagen ever since. 

The bass is central to Gísladóttir’s compositional aesthetic: her music often focuses on a single fundamental tone, over which she layers multiple worlds of sound, analogous to the range of harmonics and overtones that may be drawn out from a single point on a bass string. She draws no distinction between improvisation and composition – to her, one is simply a form of the other – and her music often features extended improvisatory elements, either for herself
to play solo or with her long-term collaborator, bassist Skúli Sverisson.

Inspired equally by death metal or techno as by Scelsi, Gísladóttir’s music explores extremes of noise and dynamic, often cut through with a dark sense of humour, as in the hour-long double bass solo SILVA, which begins from an image of an underground rave for trees; or the ‘rollercoaster for atheists’ for string trio and harpsichord, Split thee, Soul, to Splendid Bits (attn.: no eternal life/light this time around) (sample movement title: ‘OMFG have mercy on us’). 

As well as her duo with Sverisson, Gísladóttir also performs with Iceland’s Elja Ensemble.

In 2025 Bára Gísladóttir received the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Honoray Award. In 2024 she was awarded the Composer Prize of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, encompassing not solely the monetary prize but also the co-production of a portrait CD. In 2018 she won the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize. In 2022, her VÍDDIR was nominated for the Nordic Council Prize. Gísladóttir’s music is published by Edition·S, and it has been recorded for the Smekkleysa, Dacapo Records, Sono Luminus and Mengi record labels. 

- Tim Rutherford-Johnson

Available Works

All categories Solo 2-6 Instruments 7+ Instruments Choir Orchestra Music Drama and Stage Music Educational Music

  1. RÓL (og gól (roll and goal))

    2023 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    9:45 minutes

    Tuba and live electronics

  2. Seven heavens (of different heights (and depths))

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    6:42 minutes

    Oboe, percussion, harpsichord, and double bass

  3. Ms. Ephemeris Abyss

    2023 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    11 minutes

    7 alto flutes

  4. Lof oss að brenna (bæði þessa heims og annars)

    2019 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    9:30 minutes

    String quartet & electronics

  5. Séríslenskt vögguljóð á hörpu (+ stúss fyrir Frank)

    2020 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Harp, percussion and electronics

  6. Lazy Venus Syndrome

    2024 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    7:40 minutes

    Flute (solo or with flute choir)

  7. Ms. Ephemeris Abyss (arranged for 60 flutes)

    2024 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    11 minutes

    60 flutes

  8. Veil of Stone, The Deity In Disguise

    2023 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    21 minutes

    String ensemble (3.3.2.2.1), traverso, harpsichord & electronics

  9. amoeba proteus but make it metal

    2024 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    20 minutes

    2.2.2.2/2.2.2.1/3perc.pno.harp/3.2.2.1.1/electronics

  10. The moon is an eye is a pond and so on and so forth

    2023 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    65 minutes

    2 b.fl, ob, b.cl, t.sax, perc, pno, hpsd, e.guit, vln, vla, vlc, db, electronics

  11. SVEIGJA

    2023 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    8:05 minutes

    Alto saxophone and live-electronics

  12. Jódynur

    2015 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    14 minutes

    Flute solo and video

  13. Split thee, Soul, to Splendid Bits (attn.: no eternal life/light this time around)

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    11:23 minutes

    Violin, viola, cello, and harpsichord (preferably baroque instruments)

  14. ÓS

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Orchestra

    7 minutes

    3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timp/3perc/hrp/12.10.8.7.6

  15. GROWL POWER

    2022 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    13:15 minutes

    Bass flute and electronics

  16. Ever Out After Dark (or blue lady in boring city)

    2022 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    12 minutes

    Alto flute and electronics

  17. Stars with Shadows (on vast void and whatnot)

    2022 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    8:10 minutes

    Piccolo solo

  18. Devotchka watch her garbles

    2017 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    12:40 minutes

    Bass flute, bass clarinet, harp, percussion, double bass and electronics

  19. Yung Leo

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    12 minutes

    Solo saxophone (tenor and alto), string quintet, three percussionists and electronics

  20. Suzuki Baleno

    2016 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    7 minutes

    Soprano, flute, clarinet (Bb), violin and percussion

  21. Suzuki Baleno II

    2016 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    Soprano, flute, clarinet (Bb), violin, cello and percussion

  22. Respirare l'ombra

    2017 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    5 minutes

    Harp and five string double bass

  23. Nið(ur)

    2016 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    6 minutes

    Soprano, flute, clarinet (Bb), violin, cello and piano

  24. HAF:köf(n)un

    2015 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Flute, tenor sax, guitar & tam-tam

  25. ORF (en líka axir og önnur pyntingatæki)

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    8:30 minutes

    Viola d'amore & electronics

  26. Otoconia

    2017 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    6:40 minutes

    Slightly amplified string quartet and electronics

  27. Flashes from the various east

    2017 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    5:20 minutes

    Baritone, bass clarinet, trumpet and trombone

  28. Átta lög við ljóð eftir Kött Grá Pje

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    9:20 minutes

    Mezzo-soprano, baritone and string quartet

  29. Prussian Blue

    2017 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Violin and piano

  30. GLÓÐ|STELPA

    2022 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Solo

    7:52 minutes

    Flute solo

  31. Animals of your Pasture

    2021 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    20 minutes

    B.fl, ob, b.cl, t.sax, perc, el.guit, hpd, db & electronics

  32. Hringla

    2022 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Orchestra

    16:40 minutes

    3(bfl).3(ca).3(bcl).3(cb)/4.3.3(btbn).1/3perc/elec/14.12.10.8.6 + amplified solo db and electronics

  33. NĀT

    2020 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Choir

    6 minutes

    Choir (SATB) and double bass

  34. COR

    2021 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Orchestra

    15:35 minutes

    2(bfl).3(ca).3(2bcl)3(cbsn)/4.3.2+btrbn.1/4perc/0.0.0.0.7

  35. Rage against reply guy

    2021 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    9:06 minutes

    Bass clarinet, electric guitar, violin, violoncello, live-electronics

  36. exaudi

    2020 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Music Drama and Stage Music

    35 minutes

    S & T solo + fl, cl (or bcl), vln, vlc, perc & pno

  37. the worlds within our petty voids

    2019 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    7 minutes

    Flute, oboe, violin, viola & cello

  38. Music to accompany your sweet splatter dreams

    2019 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    5:30 minutes

    1(picc).1.1.1/1.1.1.0/perc/pno/1.1.1.1.1

  39. VÍDDIR

    2020 • Bára Gísladóttir

    7+ Instruments

    60 minutes

    Nine flutes, percussion trio, bass guitar & double bass

  40. Fluttering Wings

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Educational Music

    Cello solo

  41. Balders drøm

    2018 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Educational Music

    Accordeon solo

  42. VAPE

    2016 • Bára Gísladóttir

    Orchestra

    12 minutes

    3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timp/3perc/arp/16.14.12.10.8

  43. Laufgar

    2021 • Bára Gísladóttir

    2-6 Instruments

    10:20 minutes

    Viola and percussion




Advanced works search

News

  1. SPOR Festival 2025

    general

    SPOR Festival 2025

  2. Bára Gísladóttir represents Denmark at International Rostrum of Composers

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir represents Denmark at International Rostrum of Composers

  3. Bára Gísladóttir receives honorary award

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir receives honorary award

  1. Bára Gísladóttir nominated for four Icelandic Music Awards

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir nominated for four Icelandic Music Awards

  2. Gísladóttir, Holmen, Hodkinson, Dreyer and Bergner in NYC

    general

    Gísladóttir, Holmen, Hodkinson, Dreyer and Bergner in NYC

  3. Contemporary Choral Works

    general

    Contemporary Choral Works

  4. Athelas and Dirigentløftet present new Nordic music

    general

    Athelas and Dirigentløftet present new Nordic music

  5. Contemporary Orchestral Highlights

    general

    Contemporary Orchestral Highlights

  6. Bára Gísladóttir World Premieres at Skálholt

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir World Premieres at Skálholt

  7. A choir of 70 flutes and a prize-winning soloist

    general

    A choir of 70 flutes and a prize-winning soloist

  8. Behind the scenes with Bára Gísladóttir and Riot Ensemble

    general

    Behind the scenes with Bára Gísladóttir and Riot Ensemble

  9. SPOR Festival

    general

    SPOR Festival

  10. Bára Gísladóttir Album Release with Iceland Symphony Orchestra

    releases

    Bára Gísladóttir Album Release with Iceland Symphony Orchestra

  11. SPOT FLUX coming up

    general

    SPOT FLUX coming up

  12. Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

  13. Bára Gísladóttir wins Icelandic Music Award

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir wins Icelandic Music Award

  14. Bára Gísladóttir nominated for Icelandic Music Awards

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir nominated for Icelandic Music Awards

  15. SPOT FLUX: New orchestral music at SPOT 2024

    general

    SPOT FLUX: New orchestral music at SPOT 2024

  16. Bára Gísladóttir receives the Ernst von Siemens Composer Prize

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir receives the Ernst von Siemens Composer Prize

  17. World premiere of Bára Gísladóttir's NĀT

    general

    World premiere of Bára Gísladóttir's NĀT

  18. Gísladóttir World Premiere at HCMF// 2023

    general

    Gísladóttir World Premiere at HCMF// 2023

  19. Bára Gísladóttir writes solo piece for the recipient of the Sonning Music Prize 2024

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir writes solo piece for the recipient of the Sonning Music Prize 2024

  20. Løffler and Gísladóttir at Warsaw Autumn

    general

    Løffler and Gísladóttir at Warsaw Autumn

  21. World Premiere of Bára Gísladóttir's COR

    general

    World Premiere of Bára Gísladóttir's COR

  22. Nominees for the Carl Prize 2023

    nominations / awards

    Nominees for the Carl Prize 2023

  23. VÍDDIR nominated for Icelandic Music Awards

    nominations / awards

    VÍDDIR nominated for Icelandic Music Awards

  24. Great reviews for Bára Gísladóttir's SILVA

    reviews

    Great reviews for Bára Gísladóttir's SILVA

  25. Bára Gísladóttir shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards

    nominations / awards

    Bára Gísladóttir shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards

  26. Bára Gísladóttir Album Release

    releases

    Bára Gísladóttir Album Release

  27. Countdown to the Nordic Council Music Prize

    nominations / awards

    Countdown to the Nordic Council Music Prize

  28. Nordic Music Days 2022

    general

    Nordic Music Days 2022

  29. Bára Gísladóttir featured in The Strad

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir featured in The Strad

  30. Bára Gísladóttir's VÍDDIR in Mexico and the US

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir's VÍDDIR in Mexico and the US

  31. Edition·S at KLANG Festival

    general

    Edition·S at KLANG Festival

  32. Gísladóttir and Tjørnhøj nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize

    nominations / awards

    Gísladóttir and Tjørnhøj nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize

  33. Gísladóttir & Stauning nominated for Carl Prisen 2022

    nominations / awards

    Gísladóttir & Stauning nominated for Carl Prisen 2022

  34. Edition·S at SPOR festival

    general

    Edition·S at SPOR festival

  35. Dark Music Days postponed

    general

    Dark Music Days postponed

  36. Upcoming performances 2022

    general

    Upcoming performances 2022

  37. Gísladóttir receives Gladsaxe Music Prize

    nominations / awards

    Gísladóttir receives Gladsaxe Music Prize

  38. Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

  39. Great review for Gísladóttir

    reviews

    Great review for Gísladóttir

  40. Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir World Premiere

  41. Musikalske aftryk · Video teaser

    releases

    Musikalske aftryk · Video teaser

  42. KLANG festival 2021

    general

    KLANG festival 2021

  43. Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

    nominations / awards

    Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

  44. Nomination · Bára Gísladóttir

    nominations / awards

    Nomination · Bára Gísladóttir

  45. Music video · Bára Gísladóttir

    releases

    Music video · Bára Gísladóttir

  46. Score Follower · Bára Gísladóttir

    releases

    Score Follower · Bára Gísladóttir

  47. Digital Concert Series

    general

    Digital Concert Series

  48. Postponed World Premiere · Bára Gísladóttir · NĀT

    general

    Postponed World Premiere · Bára Gísladóttir · NĀT

  49. Interview · Bára Gísladóttir

    general

    Interview · Bára Gísladóttir

  50. Upcoming album · Bára Gísladóttir: HĪBER

    general

    Upcoming album · Bára Gísladóttir: HĪBER

  51. Composers and Edition·S works on Danmark Nu

    general

    Composers and Edition·S works on Danmark Nu

  52. Composers nominated for Carl Prisen 2020

    general

    Composers nominated for Carl Prisen 2020

  53. Celebrating female composers

    general

    Celebrating female composers

  54. Reviews · Bára Gísladóttir Debut Concert

    reviews

    Reviews · Bára Gísladóttir Debut Concert

  55. Bára Gísladóttir · Debut Concert

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir · Debut Concert

  56. Dark Music Days Festival in Iceland

    general

    Dark Music Days Festival in Iceland

  57. Bára Gísladóttir · SEGÏA

    general

    Bára Gísladóttir · SEGÏA

  58. Rønsholdt, Løffler, and Gísladóttir on Warsaw Autumn Festival

    general

    Rønsholdt, Løffler, and Gísladóttir on Warsaw Autumn Festival

  59. Gísladóttir and Black at Young Nordic Music

    general

    Gísladóttir and Black at Young Nordic Music

  60. Gísladóttir og Black på programmet til Ung Nordisk Musik 2019

    general

    Gísladóttir og Black på programmet til Ung Nordisk Musik 2019

  61. Talent award for Bára Gísladóttir and James Black

    general

    Talent award for Bára Gísladóttir and James Black

  62. Reviews: KLANG 10th Anniversary

    general

    Reviews: KLANG 10th Anniversary

  63. Two world premieres at KLANG reviewed

    general

    Two world premieres at KLANG reviewed

  64. Bára Gísladottír published by Edition·S

    general

    Bára Gísladottír published by Edition·S

  65. Celebrating female composers

    general

    Celebrating female composers

  66. BBC broadcasts Gísladóttir and Steen-Andersen

    general

    BBC broadcasts Gísladóttir and Steen-Andersen

  67. Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

    general

    Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

  68. Edition·S composers at Darmstadt

    general

    Edition·S composers at Darmstadt

  69. 5-star review of Pulsar opening concert

    general

    5-star review of Pulsar opening concert

  70. PULSAR: Interviews with three composition students

    general

    PULSAR: Interviews with three composition students

Show More News

Performances

  1. September 2025
  2. 12

    September

    Bára Gísladóttir: all be, all play, all slaughter

    time19:30

    location Ultima Festivalen, Den Norske Opera & Ballett, Oslo, Norway

    performed by POING

  3. 22

    September

    Bára Gísladóttir: Split thee, Soul, to Splendid Bits (attn: no eternal life/light this time around)

    time18:00

    location Warsaw Autumn, National Museum of Ethnography, Warsaw, Poland

    performed by Nordic Affect

  1. October 2025
  2. 24

    October

    Bára Gísladóttir: ÓS

    time19:00

    location Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Legat Hæderskoncert, Odense Koncer, Denmark

    performed by Odense Symphony Orchestra, Brad Lubman

  1. November 2025
  2. 28

    November

    Bára Gísladóttir: sea sons seasons

    time19:00

    location Festival d’Automne, Paris, France

    performed by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

  1. December 2025
  2. 26

    December

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -

  3. 28

    December

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -

  4. 30

    December

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -

  1. January 2026
  2. 2

    January

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -

  3. 4

    January

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -

  4. 10

    January

    Bára Gísladóttir: ORESTEIA

    time20:00

    location The National Theater of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    performed by -