Trio for Strings

Dear all, here's my latest attempt. Some time ago I think it was Peter who suggested practicing with a theme and variation. Usually I struggle with last movements, so I thought I'd give it a try. It is difficult! and hard! hopefully it taught me something, and I know there are a few things that need correcting (I hope it's only a few, actually). Anyhow, I had fun writing this and as usual I'm hoping to get honest and useful feedback! Thank you all for this great forum!

Nice sounding work. I really liked that first movements. It sounds like you were going for a classical era sound, but at the same time it has a modern feel too it! 

On 11/18/2022 at 1:38 AM, Guardian25 said:

Nice sounding work. I really liked that first movements. It sounds like you were going for a classical era sound, but at the same time it has a modern feel too it! 

 

Thank you! I wish I was able to "go" intentionally for a sound or other 🙂

How come there's no review here!

I really love how vivacious it is for the 1st movement! Nice voice exchange and all instruments take part in melody, which is good! The rhythmic flow is driving throughout the movement which shows some baroque spirit, but the modulation to as far as Bb major in b.108 shows that it's also modern! Some occasional redundant rests can be deleted though, like those in b. 43 violin.

A lovely second movement! Nice fugato in b.39, though the preparation can be more, like after a cadence or something! Also the end of the fugato seems quite detached with the last section. Some bridges can be added between them!

For the scoring of 2nd mov., the pizz. in b.8 cello is redundant. In b.17 will it be too quick for viola to change to pizz.? I think more time should be needed.

A lovely dancing 3rd movement in C# minor, my fav. key! Is that a Loure? I love the swinging rhythm! Personally I will fill up that last quaver rest though, since it will move the piece even more! Adventurous use of B sharp minor in b.117! Nice borrowing of A natural in cello b.121 to signify the return of the tonic minor! I do find the return of A section quite sudden though. Nice dance overall!

Nice variations in the fourth movement! I would love to have the theme played by viola or cello though, just like the slow movement of Haydn's Emperor Quartet. Only the cello plays the melody in the last variation. A five bar structure though in last variation, good change! My fav. one is variation 2, so fluent and fast!

Overall a nice piece, fluent and graceful! Great job @Giacomo925!

Henry

@Henry Ng Tsz Kiu I totally missed this! Thank you (again!) for your careful listening and nice comments. I'm going to try and implement your suggestions, because I think they would improve the piece quite a lot! I'm going to work on better connecting the mid-section with the rest of the second movement, and on the third movement (fill last quaver sounds right, as is the movement feels a bit to jerky; also b sharp minor actually now that you name it sounds weird, maybe I'll change it into c minor!). As for the variations, I'm gonna think if there's a way to incorporate a cello- or viola-based variation without making the movement too long. Thank you again!!

4 hours ago, Giacomo925 said:

As for the variations, I'm gonna think if there's a way to incorporate a cello- or viola-based variation without making the movement too long

Maybe I will just try what Haydn did in his Emperor Quartet: Just transfer the melody to viola/cello! The registeral change of the melody will provide great contrast. In that quartet Haydn gave the theme to each member of the quartet and each takes turn to accompany them, finally ends with the melody return to 1st violin. A device as "simple" as going up an octave in the final variation creates tremendous effect! Yoi can check this out!

Henry

I got it (I think) and added a variation with the theme played by the cello. Check it out if you have time (it is now var. 2)

38 minutes ago, Giacomo925 said:

I got it (I think) and added a variation with the theme played by the cello. Check it out if you have time (it is now var. 2)

Yes you got it! I enjoy the theme played by the cello, as it provides a contrast of register! And I find that the dynamic markings are much more detailed now! Good job!

Henry