Hross í Oss

Davíd Thór Jónsson

 
" Hross í Oss is the kind of the score that makes you crave for more, putting a continuous smile on your face and sometimes displaying a great sensible side. "

Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the music as heard in the movie

Iceland may have a relatively sparse population, but their musical heritage is outstanding. It´s a country that has brought us inspiring folk music, evocative choirs and, nowadays, some interesting musicians and composers. In the field of writing film music there are several talented composers such as Mugison, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Ólafur Arnalds. A while ago I was introduced to another great composer while watching the film Hross í Oss (Of Horses and Men), with fantastic music by Davíd Thór Jónsson (Davíð Þór Jónsson in Icelandic orthography)

Jónsson is someone who has done a variety of things the field of music in general. He has collaborated with other composers for a limited amount of films. Hross í Oss marks his first solo scoring assignment. The film, directed by Bendikt Erlingsson, can be described as a delineation of the Icelandic culture through the relations between horses and men. But it´s also a film that makes great observations through addressing universal themes and involving characters from various nationalities. It´s thoughtfully moving and offers a great portion of gallows humor, which is well reflected in the score.

The score by Jónsson incorporates influences from various cultures, which works surprisingly well. One half seems inspired by the Icelandic musical heritage, lending melodies from old folk music and using religious choirs. The other half is an enjoyable mixture of Eastern European, Russian, Mongolian and Italian music. The music does not necessarily address all characters with their own personal sound, but seems to establish this in a rather unconscious manner. During the film you can see a character riding a horse, while you´ll be hearing Mongolian throat singing or insisting, primitive drumming with accordion playing. In another scene you witness a fight accompanied by great Balkan influenced music. It´s a score also featuring a Morricone western salute, which feels like an extension of the varied sound. Usually such a tribute is an almost isolated incident and does not blend well the other music, but this truly is a rare, legitimate one.

The emotional core of the film is summarized by the use of a religious Icelandic choir. Never before have the expression of horses been so intensely displayed in combination with such evocative singing... Though the choir mostly functions as the dramatic heart of the score, it easily changes into an effective awkward comic relief. Of all the different kind of choirs that exist around the globe, I believe the Icelandic and Russian orthodox are the most impressive in what they express. I can wholeheartedly recommend other scores by Icelandic composers such as Mugison – Mýrin.


All the different rhythms and sound make for a hugely entertaining experience. Hross í Oss is the kind of the score that makes you crave for more, putting a continuous smile on your face and sometimes displaying a great sensible side. Sadly the score has not been released.
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(total of 5 votes - average 4.6/5)

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