Jónas Árnason, parliamentarian and author, was born in Vopnafjörður on the 28 May 1923, so now we commemorate his centenary. Árnason died on April 5, 1998. He worked in journalism, fishing and teaching in his younger years.Árnason was a parliamentarian for the Socialist Party from 1949 to 1953 and for the People’s Alliance from 1967 to 1979. Along with his work, Árnason wrote musicals in collaboration with his brother, Jón Múli.
The collaboration of the Árnason brothers, Jónas and Jón Múli, in writing musicals began in 1954. Then, shortly before Christmas, the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation premiered their comedy musical, Deleríum búbónis. Jón Múli wrote the songs, Jónas the lyrics. The Reykjavík City Theatre brought the musical to stage in January 1959. The work became extremely popular and Jónas’s lyrics to Jón Múli’s songs have acquired an independent life and a place in people’s hearts in Iceland, e.g. “Söngur jólasveinanna” (Úti er alltaf að snjóa), “Einu sinni á ágústkvöldi” and “Ljúflingshóll”.
The original script for the musical was entitled “Gleðileg jól hf eða Delerium búbónis eða Af ávöstunum skuluð þér þekkja þá” and is preserved in the Theatre Museum of Iceland, under the collection target LMÍ 2021/10, signed by Einbjörn and Tvíbjörn, two of of the brothers’many pseudonyms. The manuscript is accompanied by a letter from Jónas to Jón Múli, believed to be related to the musical, where he explains that the musical must not be longer than 2 hours and 10 to 20 minutes and that it is best to skip the festival scene at the end.
Jónas directed the play himself in Borgarnes in 1966.
In memory of Jónas Árnason, the manuscript of Deleríum búbónis and his letter to his brother are the highlights of the month in the library in June 2023.
