Kaija Saariaho
Je sens un deuxieme coeur (I feel a second heart, 2003)
LA premiere
Toru Takemitsu
All in Twilight for guitar (1987)
Henri Dutilleux
Ainsi le Nuit (Such is the night, 1976)
Chinary Ung
Aura (2006)

Gloria Cheng, piano
Jonathan Moerschel, viola
Eric Byers, cello
Michael Kudirka, guitar
Lyris Quartet
Elissa Johnston, soprano
Kathleen Roland, soprano
Jacaranda Chamber Ensemble
Mark Alan Hilt, conductor

An aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object, be that the moon or the Buddha — a halo in religious art, or a misty light that emanates from an unlikely source. The nocturnal sensibility of this program brings together music from four regions far apart. The dark lunar strings and piano of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s trio illuminates the cycle of her pregnancy, while these Japanese and French masters dwell in the shifting aspects of night. Aura, the Cambodian American composer Chinary Ung’s panorama of instrumental and vocal color, asks the performers for expressive gestures that conjure the transforming force of spirit/nature in the aftermath of calamity.

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“Songs from Letters: Calamity Jane to her daughter, Janey” can be found on Licorice Stick, along with “Licorice Stick” and “Mephisto Rag”, played by clarinettist Stefan Harg. Pianist Katarina Harg is the excellent pianist on this recording, made with the composer Libby Larsen in Stockholm.

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This 2008 release from Southwest Chamber Music and Cambria Master Recordings features music of Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Chinary Ung. The recording includes Aura, Oracle and Still Life After Death. Sopranos Elissa Johnston, Kathleen Roland and Grammy Award-winning members of Southwest Chamber Music are featured in this dazzling recording. Aura is a major 45-minute work celebrating the enlightenment of Buddha. At its Southwest Chamber Music world premiere in February of 2006, Aura
was described by the Los Angeles Times critic Mark Swed with sweeping accolades:  “with music this enthralling, there is no need to hold back. Musically, Aura unfolds like radiating light.”- CDBaby