the IDEA
Focus on monumentality
The facade of the famous organ of the Riga Cathedral in Latvia — is an overwhelming display of Baroque excess and luxury. Placing text over such a dense image without creating visual conflict and clutter is practically impossible.
Instead of trying to reconcile strict typography with golden ornaments of the 16th century, the principle of “museum explication” was applied: the image conveys the scale of the instrument, while the text block acts as a plaque beneath a massive museum exhibit. This provides the necessary “breathing room” and establishes a clear information hierarchy.
The musician’s logo is delicately integrated into the upper corner of the facade photograph, without disrupting the historical composition.
the RECORDING
Taming the giant
At the time of its creation in 1882–1883, the organ of the Riga Cathedral was one of the largest in the world:
· 6,718 pipes made of wood and metal;
· the longest pipe is — 10 meters;
· the shortest is — 13 millimeters;
· 124 stops on four manuals.
The luxurious wooden facade depicted on the cover has been preserved from an earlier instrument built back in 1601.
For Konstantin Volostnov, this project brought together a rare Russian organ repertoire with the unique acoustic capabilities of the instrument. The recording was made in 2013. In the musician’s discography, the album was released under the catalog number KVCD-008.
the PACKAGING
Jewel case, booklet and visual system
The packaging strikes a balance between a classic format and overwhelming luxury. The album is structured like a small musical archive: the front side is emotional, while the back is — informational.
This separation reflects the content of the project: the photograph sells the atmosphere and scale of the instrument, while the typography demonstrates the academic seriousness of the release.
Inside, the visual system continues through photographs of the organ and black-and-white typography. It is a unique combination of a classical music catalog, museum documentation, and an independent artist’s CD release.
the FACTS
Three lives of one recording
The first release of the recording came out in 2015 on the British label Priory Records in the famous series called Great European Organs No. 93 — Konstantin Volostnov plays the Walcker Organ of Riga Dom, Latvia.
The Russian release came out later in 2016 under Konstantin Volostnov’s own label and is more comprehensive than the Priory Records version — it includes a bilingual booklet, detailed organ specifications, console photographs, and additional publishing materials.
In 2017, the recording became available in digital format on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, Presto Music, and others.
