MUSIC

The “Gypsy” Trio gets its nickname from its Finale that shows the flavor of gypsy and Hungarian folk music Haydn was drawn to during his long employment at Esterháza. In the Hommage a R. Sch., for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Kurtág adopts the same personae as Schumann’s pieces, and creates a string of evocative miniatures that recreate the Schummannesque spirit in contemporary terms. Composed in a new style neither modern nor postmodern, Ligeti’s Trio explores the use of major and minor harmonies without the syntax of common practice tonality. The Dohnányi Sextet, for the unusual combination of clarinet, horn, string trio, and piano, has four very Brahmsian movements but with idiosyncratic twists. Sly wit and boisterous fun are key parts of this music.

Concert 4:
Haydn: Piano Trio in G major, Hob. XV:25, “Gypsy”
Kurtág: Hommage à R. Sch., for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Opus 15d
Ligeti: Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano, Hommage à Brahms
Dohnányi: Sextet in C major for String Trio, Clarinet, Horn and Piano,
Opus 37

Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet / William Purvis, French horn
Jonathan Crow, violin / Marcus Thompson, viola
Ronald Thomas, cello / Mihae Lee, piano