David Conte

Trio

Trio was composed between January and March of 2011. The work was commissioned by the Cha Family Foundation for the International Chamber Music Festival, Shanghai Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory of Music, cosponsors, and was premiered onMay 11th, 2011 at the Shanghai Conservatory by the Shanghai Conservatory Piano Trio: Wu Shuting, violin - Chen Tian, cello - and Huang Shuo, piano.

The first movement, in B minor, opens with eight rich, complex chords that outline theharmonic character of the entire movement, and establish a dark, brooding, and passionately intense mood. The first theme is characterized by dotted rhythms and broad upward leaps, supported by a turbulent piano accompaniment. This opening theme issucceeded by a contrasting theme with a more lyrical character, which in turn leads to a very expressive closing theme built over a pedal. The form unfolds, culminating in a climax featuring the dotted rhythm motive. The movement ends with a verysoft but rhythmically intense 'scampering' coda.

The second movement is a slow and expressive Chaconne in E major, built on a three measure chord progression. The violin and cello sing in turn long, sustained melodies over this repeatedseries of chords. Statements of this three-bar phrase are alternated with a second melodic idea, in a slightly faster tempo. With each return of the chaconne phrase, the music becomes more and more rhythmically animated, leading to a broad climaxwith massive chords in the piano and double-stops in the strings. The movement ends quietly with the opening melody stated in octaves by the strings.

The third movement is a driving Allegro cast as a rondo, with steady sixteenth-note runs inthe strings. The piano picks up this material, leading to a somewhat jazzy second theme. The main driving sixteenth-note theme returns and is followed by a more lyrical third theme in a slightly relaxed tempo, supported by pizzicato figuration. Themain theme returns a third time and progresses resolutely to a climactic statement of the second theme in a broader majestic tempo. The finale concludes with a brisk coda, ending the entire trio in the affirmative key of B major. '
-DavidConte

I. Allegro moderato [5:37]
II. Chaconne: Slow and expressive [6:55]
III. Ronda: Allegro [4:01]

Includes score and parts.