Musical Journeys to Iceland: Foreign Impact on Local Music Life, 1920–1960

The article examines the various journeys jazz musicians took to Iceland between 1930 and 1960. The early 20th century was colored by Iceland’s struggle for independence from Denmark, and cultural leaders were preoccupied with ‘modernizing’ the culture, showing that it belonged to the ‘civilized’ Western world as a nation among nations. The music scene in Iceland was underdeveloped compared with mainland Europe (which was the role model), and foreign musicians took on numerous musical roles to compensate for the lack of local specialization. These musicians mainly came from Denmark, the UK, Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and they influenced the scene in various ways. Foreign influence also came with Icelandic musicians who returned to the country after studying abroad. Jazz appreciation societies invited touring musicians to the country to ensure a higher quality of concerts than local musicians could provide. The occupation by the Allied Forces during WWII had an immense impact on the establishment of jazz and fueled its development. The troops brought jazz records and bands and took part in local entertainment. Among the military staff were jazz musicians who taught and performed with local musicians at military dances, on TV, and on the radio. After the war, the US military kept its base and continued to impact the jazz scene. However, because of Iceland’s fledgling national identity, authorities saw certain foreign influences as a threat to Icelandic culture and society. While European high culture was valued, jazz was considered uncivilized and even barbaric due to its African and American roots.