Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
“Gold Lamé” by Tony Heaton on display in 2018.
Liverpool Plinth
Xingfu Village Monument
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
This gigantic statue once marked a radio station’s headquarters.
Huntoon Park Wren
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, passes over the flight line at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 9, 2024
Who Swarmed Langley Air Force Base With Drones?
Our producer Manolo Morales would spend his final days perusing the shelves at Book Off.
Where Would You Go to Wait for the Apocalypse?
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Iceland Seydisfjordur Tvísöngur

Tvísöngur

These concrete domes were installed on an Icelandic bluff to honor a very specific musical tradion.

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Tvísöngur   Skaftfell.is
Tvísöngur   visitseydisfjordur.com
  rudimarnitz / Atlas Obscura User
  chocolateyclaire / Atlas Obscura User
A ribbon of Aurora dances over Tvísöngur   nordkin / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Berlin artist Lukas Kühne’s bulbous sculpture known as Tvísöngur, mixes concrete, nature, and sound to create an interactive tribute to Iceland's unique tradition of five-tone harmony. 

Unveiled in 2012, the installation piece looks like a grouping of interconnected cement bubbles from afar. Up close the five segments are actually quite large, ranging from roughly 6 to 12 feet tall and can be entered via rounded arches built into the walls. Once inside the stark industrial domes, visitors will find that they have each been designed to resonate at different harmonies as the wind blowing in off the cliff rushes through the openings. The collective effect is almost as though the wind itself is playing a giant instrument.

The five chambers of the piece are meant to recall the Icelandic musical tradition of quintal harmony, with each dome reflecting a tone in the tradition. Juxtaposed with the serene and stark surroundings, it seems as though Iceland itself is creating the music. Tvísöngur is a permanent work and is meant to keep the country's musical traditions alive, which is not an easy thing to do simply with concrete.

Related Tags

Sculptures Music
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Iceland in Summer: Journey through the South Coast & the Westman Islands

Explore Iceland's Myths, Wonders, & Landscapes.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

slieschke, nordkin, chocolateyclaire, rudimarnitz

  • slieschke
  • nordkin
  • chocolateyclaire
  • rudimarnitz

Published

March 25, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/secrets/2013/09/12/a-secret-instrument/
  • http://skaftfell.is/en/2012/08/tvisongur-opening/
Tvísöngur
Strandarvegur
Seydisfjordur
Iceland
65.267824, -13.981981
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'How's It Going?' Phone Booth

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

miles away

'Heavier Mountain'

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

miles away

Kjarvalshvammur

Eiðar, Iceland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seydisfjordur

Seydisfjordur

Iceland

Places 3

Nearby Places

'How's It Going?' Phone Booth

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

miles away

'Heavier Mountain'

Seydisfjordur, Iceland

miles away

Kjarvalshvammur

Eiðar, Iceland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Seydisfjordur

Seydisfjordur

Iceland

Places 3

Related Places

  • ‘Portrait of a Shout.’

    Kagoshima, Japan

    ‘Portrait of a Shout’

    A well-known Japanese musician’s all-night concert on this island is immortalized by an unusual work of art.

  • Scallop

    Aldeburgh, England

    Scallop at Aldeburgh Beach

    This massive metal scallop is a tribute to an English composer who once walked across this beach.

  • The Sound Arch.

    Ojai, California

    Trimpin Sound Arch

    Make sweet music as you walk through this interactive sonic sculpture.

  • Dolly Parton Statue

    Sevierville, Tennessee

    Dolly Parton Statue

    An ode to "The Queen of Appalachia."

  • Virtuoso Sculpture

    Houston, Texas

    Virtuoso Sculpture

    Once seen as a bit of an eyesore, this sculpture has become a staple of downtown Houston.

  • ‘Cromatico’

    Tallinn, Estonia

    'Cromatico'

    This set of concrete chambers resonates according to different notes of octaves.

  • ‘Twins’

    Brighton, England

    'Twins'

    These shopping center benches are actually a modern art installation.

  • Baudette, Minnesota

    Basshenge

    A garden full of metal sculptures that celebrate the double bass.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.