Jón Nordal (1926–2024) studied composition with Jón Þórarinsson in Iceland and continued his studies with Willy Burkhard in Switzerland. His early style is indebted to Paul Hindemith, for example his Concerto for Orchestra and Sonata for Violin and Piano, but he later developed a unique style, pensive and chordally based. His participation at the Darmstadt course led to the serial Brotaspil, after which he composed nothing for several years. Only with his orchestral Adagio (1966) did he find his own style, and was particularly active in the 1970s as a composer of orchestral and choral music. He was also the Principal of the Reykjavík School of Music from 1959 to 1992.