On November 8, 2024, the latest monographic album by drummer and composer Rafał Gorzycki, titled SeCunda (Sagit021CD), will be released. It contains his chamber compositions from 2020 to 2022, a joint project of the Publishing House of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, named "Sagittaria," and the Polish Chamber Music Foundation "Art Mintaka." Three pieces have been recorded by the NeoQuartet, Mintaka Ensemble, and Ludzie z Vełny.
The compositions Brekkek Kekkek (2020), Ludzie z Vełny (2021), and Requiem [for time] (2022) mark another stage in the evolution of Rafał Gorzycki's compositional style. The title of the first quintet references the chorus of marsh frogs from Aristophanes' comedy; its carefully structured segmented form features an ad libitum section, full of intriguing sound events, and a surprisingly lyrical coda. The title Ludzie z Vełny coincides with the name of the ensemble founded by Gorzycki, the first in Bydgoszcz dedicated to performing and promoting contemporary Polish music, which can be seen as a sort of founding manifesto. Requiem [for time] for string quartet, electronics, and speech synthesizer is multifaceted in terms of performance, with its subtitle addressing a priority issue for Gorzycki: building musical drama in time and space.
As Iwona Lindstedt notes, "He emerges from a rich background of the artist's personal experiences in jazz and improvised music, while also drawing inspiration from avant-garde currents of 20th-century 'classical' music. [...] Understanding Gorzycki's artistic identity is also essential to recognize his extensive inspirations, the impulse stemming from the great tradition of 20th-century avant-garde, which compellingly attests to the originality of Rafał Gorzycki's creative workshop, which does not settle, so to speak, for mere receptivity."
The release of Rafał Gorzycki's SeCunda has been funded by the budget of the City of Bydgoszcz and co-financed by ZAW STOART.
Media patronage: Polish Music Information Centre POLMIC
Detailed information: www.rafalgorzycki.com
