Instrumentation: Piano Trio

I. Procession
This procession is a solemn but joyful celebration. The piano establishes a steady rhythm, triadic structures over a C pedal. The violin introduces the theme, soon joined by the cello. Quasi-improvisatory gestures in the violin betray the excitement behind the apparent solemnity. When the violin and cello take up the rhythmic foundation, the piano engages in rhapsodic outbursts. The pedal point finally ends and the harmony is fully realised: the procession fades from view.
II. Deliberation
Many ways of looking at an issue are depicted by a motivic melody over shifting harmony, landing ambiguously on inversions rather than the tonic. A tentative decision about 2/3 of the way through gives way to more sober discussion. The piano has the final word before a concluding chord brings the deliberation to an end.
III. Vindication
This piece is a cheeky ‘I told you so!’ The harmonic character recalls George Gershwin’s jazz-inflected Three Preludes for Piano. The 12/8 clave is drawn from Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music. The main melodic figure is treated contrapuntally in a pensive middle section. The piano then resumes the 12/8 clave and the ensemble presents a final reworking of the theme through different harmonic contexts.

Downloadable sample pages found at the link here. Listen here.