Music for Lokkur
Performed by Berglind María Tómasdóttir (lokkur & vocals) with additional vocals by Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir
Music by Berglind María Tómasdóttir, Lilja María Ásmundsdóttir, þórunn Gréta Sigurðardóttir/Jakobína Sigurðardóttir and Karólína Eiríksdóttir.
Recorded at Fella- og Hólakirkja in Reykjavik, June 2019.
Captured, mixed and mastered by Johann Günther.
Graphic design by Júlía Runólfsdóttir.
The Lokkur Project has evolved through Berglind’s creative efforts over the last decade. At its core is Tómasdóttir’s instrument building, resulting in the invented historical instruments Hrokkur (a predecessor of Lokkur) and Lokkur. Both instruments have a fictional story attached to them as recently discovered instruments invented by Icelandic settlers in the United States of America in the early decades of the 20th century. Lokkur is a hybrid of the Icelandic musical instrument Langspil and a spinning wheel. It has, “historically speaking”, been considered a woman’s instrument perhaps due to its similarities to the latter. In the summer of 2015, the Lokkur was exhibited for the first time at Árbær Open Air Museum as a part of Reykjavík Arts Festival.
The Lokkur Project is an artistic exploration on music and identity, cultural heritage and traditions. The project is culminating in the book Duet published by Icelandic publishing house Sæmundur, a self-released cassette featuring reworks by various composers made from the sounds of Hrokkur and Lokkur, and this album featuring new music for Lokkur. Finally, The Origin of Things, a film by Berglind María Tómasdóttir, premiered at the Nordic House earlier this year. The film is yet another component of the project.