Edgar Knecht - Personal Seasons (2019) Hi Res

The seasons had always been a source of inspiration for pianist Edgar Knecht. Whenever he thought about them, he couldn't help ruminating: About the fleetingness of things. About the unique power of music to accompany us through all the different stages of life. About the challenge for the original trio to incorporate an additional musician. It therefore seemed apt to make the seasons the focal point for the group's tenth anniversary album. So 'Personal Seasons' was not just another season cycle in the style of Vivaldi - but a turning point in the work of Edgar Knecht.

It was always clear to Knecht that Frederik Köster was the ideal partner for the project. Just like him, the trumpet player and composer is a free thinker. His work seamlessly combines academia and improvisation, intimate performances and orchestral instrumentation. Their cooperation hardly required any words. The two only briefly got together for a single day to exchange and discuss their approach. Their next meeting already took place at the idyllic Fattoria Musica near Osnabrück - for the recording session.

The resulting full-length is easily Knecht's most ambitious album yet. It encompasses two complete seasonal cycles, each with its own personality. The first of the two cycles is more subtle and mysterious. Morbidly beautiful 17th century song "Schnitter Tod", for example, is a tribute to Autumn, while carol "Es kommt ein Schiff geladen" ("There comes a ship a' laden") hints at the cold of Winter. In the second cycle, with the percussive drive of "Sommerschall" and the Latin-flavoured "Winterschall", themes then become more transparent. The seasons had always been a source of inspiration for pianist Edgar Knecht. Whenever he thought about them, he couldn't help ruminating: About the fleetingness of things. About the unique power of music to accompany us through all the different stages of life. About the challenge for the original trio to incorporate an additional musician. It therefore seemed apt to make the seasons the focal point for the group's tenth anniversary album. So 'Personal Seasons' was not just another season cycle in the style of Vivaldi - but a turning point in the work of Edgar Knecht.

It was always clear to Knecht that Frederik Köster was the ideal partner for the project. Just like him, the trumpet player and composer is a free thinker. His work seamlessly combines academia and improvisation, intimate performances and orchestral instrumentation. Their cooperation hardly required any words. The two only briefly got together for a single day to exchange and discuss their approach. Their next meeting already took place at the idyllic Fattoria Musica near Osnabrück - for the recording session.

The resulting full-length is easily Knecht's most ambitious album yet. It encompasses two complete seasonal cycles, each with its own personality. The first of the two cycles is more subtle and mysterious. Morbidly beautiful 17th century song "Schnitter Tod", for example, is a tribute to Autumn, while carol "Es kommt ein Schiff geladen" ("There comes a ship a' laden") hints at the cold of Winter. In the second cycle, with the percussive drive of "Sommerschall" and the Latin-flavoured "Winterschall", themes then become more transparent.