New ASO Work Inspired By Icelandic Cliffs, Tybee Island

The Icelandic beach Reynisfjara was one of the unique locales that inspired Michael Kurth’s ”A Thousand Words.”

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On the southern coast of Iceland, there’s a beach called Reynisfjara. Mangled pillars of rock weather continuous crashes of frigid ocean water. Black sand shores give way to strange basalt cliffs. It’s the kind of place that leaves an impression.

For Atlanta Symphony Orchestra double bassist and composer Michael Kurth, that impression was distinctly sinister.

“It feels like … a Bond villain would have his lair there,” Kurth said.