A debut double-album by NYC based Latvian composer, the winner of the 67th Rostrum of Composers / International Music Council Award in category "Young Composer" of 2021 KRISTS AUZNIEKS.
CD1 features a studio recording of Auznieks' trio Ecclesia Cordis (Cathedral of Heart) written for saxophone, guitar and percussion. Though heavily influenced by jazz, trio is strictly notated. The composer strives, however, to abandon the rather strict roles of instrumental functions in the jazz trio (melody, harmony, rhythm) in favour of a more dynamic functions/roles found in classical piano trios by Brahms, Schubert or Mendelssohn.
CD2 features a live recording (December 4, 2021 GORS Concert Hall in Rezekne, Latvia) of the world premiere performance of Auznieks' Guitar Concerto Coiled Horizon performed by JIJI and Sinfonietta Riga, Normunds Sne conducting. A note of interest - Normunds Sne is not only leading the performance of the world premiere but at the same time produces the recording of the Concerto.
Composer KRISTS AUZNIEKS has been praised for his "exhilarating stunning luminous" (San Francisco Classical Voice) music, possessing "astonishing complexity and beauty" (Broadwayworld), and "old-fashioned elegance" (Herald Tribune). His quintet "Piano" was featured in The New York Times among the week's best classical music moments; he is also a recipient of Aspen Music Festival's Jacob Druckman Prize and the youngest composer to ever receive the Latvian Grand Music Award for best composition of the year. He has won the 67th International Composition Competition Rostrum 2021 in the group of young composers.
