Gísladóttir, Bára

is an Icelandic composer and double bassist based in Copenhagen. Her music has been performed by ensembles and orchestras such as Athelas Sinfonietta, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Duo Harpverk, Elektra Ensemble, Elja Ensemble, Ensemble Adapter, Ensemble intercontemporain, Ensemble New Babylon, ensemble recherche, Esbjerg Ensemble, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Helsingborg Symphony, Iceland Symphony, loadbang, Marco Fusi, Mimitabu, NJYD, Nordic Affect, Riot Ensemble, Siggi String Quartet, and TAK Ensemble. Her works have been selected for festivals such as Dark Music Days, Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music, International Rostrum of Composers, KLANG Festival, Nordic Music Days, and Ung Nordisk Musik. She has received the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, the Reykjavík Grapevine Music Awards, and has been nominated to the Icelandic Music Awards. 

She has released three albums: Different Rooftops, containing pieces for voice, tenor saxophone, double bass and electronics (2015); B R I M S L Ó Ð, a piece in three movements for double bass and electronics (2016); and Mass for Some for double bass, voice and electronics (2017). She is currently working on a new album in collaboration with Skúli Sverrisson, as well as a new solo album, to be released in 2019. 

Bára Gísladóttir is an active performer and regularly plays her own music. In addition to this, she is the double bassist of Elja Ensemble, Skark Ensemble, and Balkan band Orphic Oxtra. She has also performed with Ensemble Adapter, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and S.L.Á.T.U.R. 

Selected works: Úr fjarska for piano quintet (2010), Stelkurinn for baritone and cello (2011), Fiskur undir steini for piano trio (2011), Tog milli tveggja tauma for clarinet, cello and accordion (2011), Í varpanum for mezzo-soprano and piano (2012), Confessions of a Bloody Dancer for harp and percussion (2012), Eldtungur í Vaðlaheiði for violin, two cellos and double bass (2012), Fimm fuglar, órir ngur: I. Eyjan Iona, II. Í bjarnarhíðifor string quartet (2012), Stjarnfylli for mezzo-soprano and piano (2012), Í sandinum átti ég e ir for mixed choir (2012), Hvar dreymdi mig þessa drauma for mixed choir (2012), Himnastigi for piano (2013), Tango, lm music for double bass (2013), Dauði ugunnar for flute (2013), Kláus hákarl margan myrti for children’s orchestra (2013),A minn frá Ísa rði for flute, clarinet, trumpet, bassoon and accordion (2013), Haukur í horni for ensemble (2013), Café Kafka for double bass (2014), Sancta Caecilia for children’s choir (2014), Waltsmart-röðfor Balkan band (2014), Skökk stjarna for flute and piano (2014), Vöxtur: I. Rætur, II. Bolur, III. Brum, IV. Króna for violin and marimba (2014), Beðiðfor Yamaha CP-70M keyboard, e-bow and a brave performer with a good voice (2014), Rooftops of Barcelona for tenor saxophone, any number of amplified double basses and electronics (2014), Landsliðið á línu, stage music for double bass (2014), HAF:köf(n)un for flute, tenor, saxophone, guitar and tamtam (2015), Jódynur for flute (2015), Dancing Keen for clarinet in B at (2015), Paradoxical Vision for tenor saxophone (2015), NEINDfor violin, double bass, e-bow, Yamaha CP-70M electric piano and some other inconvenient stuff but only two performers (2015), tif for piano, clarinet, violin and cello (2015), Rooftops of Berlin for double bass, elastic threads and four helpers (2015; also studio version for solo double bass, 2016), I nostri dei sono morti for soprano and five double basses (2015), I nostri dei sono morti II for mezzo-soprano, baritone, two flutes, piano, double bass and electronics (2015), I nostri dei sono morti III for mezzo-soprano, double bass and electronics (2015), I nostri dei sono morti IV for mezzo-soprano, tenor saxophone, double bass and electronics (2015), Svamlandi eru sælir for double bass and electronics (2015), Skreppur seiðkarl og Helena fagra for trumpet and double bass (2015), Rooftops of Marrakech for tenor saxophone, double bass and electronics (2015), Rooftops of Milan for double bass and electronics (2015), Rooftops of Prague for double bass (2015), MiMaMü for two flutes and double bass (2015), Method of loci for mezzo-soprano and piano (2016), BRIMSLÓРfor double bass and electronics (2016), Suzuki Baleno for soprano, flute, clarinet in B at, violin and percussion (2016), Suzuki Baleno II for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion (2016), BRIMSLÓÐ: Variations for double bass and electronics (2016), SKY AV LYS for organ (2016), BRIMSLÓÐ: 1. grynni, 2. miðbik, 3. dýpi, radio feature music (2016), Turn a Blind Eye for orchestra (2016), Nið(ur) for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2016), BRIMSLÓÐ: Variations II for double bass and electronics (2016), VAPE for orchestra (2016–17), Mass for Some for double bass, voice and electronics (2017), Flashes from the Various East for baritone, bass clarinet, trumpet and trombone (2017), Prussian Blue for violin and piano (2017), Devotchka watch her garbles for bass flute, bass clarinet, harp, percussion, double bass and electronics (2017), Respirare l’ombra for harp and ve-stringed double bass (2017), otoconia for string quartet and electronics (2017), Solomon Grundy for mixed choir (2017), Átta lög við ljóð e ir Kött Grá Pje (og nokkur hlægilega stutt millispil) for mezzo-soprano, baritone and string quartet (2018), Balder’s Dream for accordion (2018), Fluttering wings for cello (2018), ORF (en engar axir né önnur pyntingatæki) for viola d’amore (2018), ORF (en líka axir og önnur pyntingatæki) for viola d’amore and electronics (2018), VĒXŌ for double bass and electronics (2018), SUĪ for double bass and electronics (2018), Sandbjerggade 19 for double bass and electronics (2018), no afterlife thanks for double bass and electronics (2018), ÓS for orchestra (2018), Split thee, Soul, to Splendid Bits (attn.: no eternal life/light this time around) for violin, viola, cello and harpsichord (2018), A lil Requiem before Super Bowl for soprano, guitar and cello (2018), Yung Leo for saxophone, string quartet, three percussionists and electronics (2018), Seven heavens (of different heights (and depths)) for oboe, percussion, harpsichord and double bass (2018), Music to accompany your sweet splatter dreams for flute / piccolo, oboe, clarinet in B at, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, two percussionists, piano and string quintet (2019), the worlds within our petty voids for flute, oboe, violin, viola and cello (2019), Lof oss að brenna (bæði þessa heims og annars) for string quartet and electronics (2019), exaudi, opera for soprano, tenor, flute, clarinet / bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion and piano (2019).