reyði tráðurin

reyði tráðurin was originally composed for robert bennesh, organist at lund cathedral in sweden, who premiered the piece in 2021. from the beginning, the piece seemed to resonate with performers and audiences alike, soon finding its way to organs in iceland and the faroe islands. shortly after, the piece was entered into the “organ taurida — new classics” competition in russia, where reyði tráðurin made it to the final as one of the top ten compositions. following this recognition, the piece was performed extensively across russia and belarus, while continuing to gain momentum in the faroe islands, denmark, norway, and sweden.

the title refers to the nordic idiom of “the red thread,” a metaphor for a common theme connecting a series of ideas, much like the american notion of a “through line.” in his autobiography, hans christian andersen invokes the red thread when describing the guiding presence of faith in his life. similarly, reyði tráðurin is built around a central theme — a simple melody that weaves its way through the music like a red thread.