Trio for a Spry Clarinet, Weeping Cello, and Ruminating Harp
For clarinet in Bb (doubles bass clarinet), cello, harp (2010)
Length: 12 minutes
Written for the Israeli Chamber Project
This performance:
Israeli Chamber Project
Tibi Cziger, clarinet
Michal Korman, cello
Sivan Magen, harp
About the piece
When approaching the task of writing a piece for the unusual instrumentation of clarinet, cello and harp, I have been influenced by a mixture of different musical styles that, in my mind, relate to these instruments: folk music, Jewish klezmer, impressionism and rock (after all, it is a known fact the cello originated from the electric guitar). As it often happens, the result is somewhat different than the original plan, but some elements from these genres have still found their way to the final version. The trio is loosely constructed out of three movements that are played in a row and offer different versions of similar themes, while each instrument aims to pull the musical style at its own direction. Toward the end of the piece, there is a triumphant moment at which all instruments showcase their individual variations simultaneously. Thus, they celebrate their difference in tone between the instruments as well as their blend together. In 2014 the piece won the American Harp Society in Dallas’ International Composition Competition.
Select performances:
• The Morgan Library & Museum (NYC): Israeli Chamber Project
• Wells House (Ireland): Musici Ireland (William Butt, cello; Dianne Marshall, harp; Berginald Rash, clarinets)
• Chamber Music Pittsburgh (PA): Kassia Ensemble
• Indiana University (IN): Indiana University New Music Ensemble
• Franz Schubert Institute (Austria): Trio FLOREO
• Ottawa Chamberfest 2012 (Canada): Israeli Chamber Project
• Budapest Music Center (Hungary): principal players of Budapest Festival Orchestra
• University of California (UCLA): Israeli Chamber Project
• Eastman School of Music (NY): Joe Clark, clarinets; Amanda Laborete, cello; Dai-An Liu, harp
• Parlance Chamber Concerts (Ridgewood, NJ): principal players of New York Philharmonic
• Einav Center for Culture (Tel-Aviv): Israeli Chamber Project
• Tenri Cultural Center (NYC)
• Congress Innsbruck (Innsbruck, Austria): Trio Vinea
• National Opera Center (NYC): Exponential Ensemble
• Sunflower Music Festival (Topeka, KS): Rita Costanzi, Harp; Jonathan Cohen, Clarinet; Erin Breene, Cello
• Victoria International Arts Festival (Malta): Trio Vinea
• Buzzards Bay Musicfest (Marion, MA): Rita Costanzi, Harp; Jonathan Cohen, Clarinet; Erin Breene, Cello
• South Orange Performing Arts Center (NJ): Israeli Chamber Project
• Michigan State University (IL): Tasha Warren, clarinet; Pablo Mahave-Veglia, cello; Chen-Yu Huang, harp
• Omaha Chamber Music Society (NE): John Klinghammer, cl; Maria Crosby, cello; Katie Wychulis, harp
• University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz (Austria): Trio FLOREO
• American Harp Society 2022 Nationsl Conference (Sioux Falls, SD): Israeli Chamber Project
• Helsinki Music Centre (Finland): NYKY Ensemble
• Piz Amalia Music Festival (Scuol, Switzerland): Toya Belén Johansen, Timen Bruijne, Séléna Plain
• Needham Concert Society (MA, USA): Ryan Yure, Ronald Lowry, Ina Zdorovetchi
• Mostly Modern Festival (Saratoga Springs, NY): Tasha Warren, Joseph Rebman, Dave Eggar
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