Trio in D for Violin, Horn, and Piano (2018)

Something for a somewhat unusual ensemble - Violin, Horn (Natural, in D and C), and Piano.  Brahms wrote a Trio for this instrumentation, but other than that I don't know of any others.  It was composed in 15 days in 2018.  

This piece was commissioned by Dr. James Hampson, a natural horn virtuoso.  What is meant by "natural horn" is that the instrument does not have any valves.  The valve mechanisms that horns have now were not invented until the 1830s, and even then did not catch on right away or universally; Brahms calls for natural horns in his works, and there is even a natural horn solo in Ravel's "Pavane for a Dead Princess," which he arranged for orchestra in 1910.  Since my work is Classical in style, it is fitting that I composed the horn part for natural horn, as would have naturally been done around the year 1800.  The part can just as easily be played on a modern horn with valves.  Likewise, I envisioned that the piano part ideally should be played on a 5-1/2 octave fortepiano as would have been available starting in the mid-1790s.    

- Composed: May 18 – June 2, 2018 at Austin.

- Style: Classical, ca. 1790-1800

- Duration: 17:25

I. Allegro assai (00:00)

II. Andante piuttosto malincolico (07:00)

III. Vivace alla Russa – Allegretto spiritoso alla Polacca – Tempo I (11:20)

- Electronic Rendering by Finale 26 music notation software’s "Human Playback" with NotePerformer 3 artificial intelligence assisted interpretation.

Listened to the first movement.

     A completely charming, engaging piece.  Could have been penned by the master himself---Mozart, of course.

    The clarity is something to shoot for in my own work.

           Thank you for posting!   

Bravo! your quite the talent to say the least!

I am Polish and I loved your Polonaise featured in the last movement!  I don't know why you would put an alla Russa section back to back with a Polonaise since these cultures besides having a common linguistic Slavic origin aren't really all that alike.  LoL  I also liked how the beginning of the 3rd movement had a little flash back to movement 1.  I think this is quite an accomplished classical piece!  I don't know why both Musescore and your program (I think it's Finale?) both show certain notes to be out of range for the horn when they're clearly not - I think there must be some kind of error in the programming.  I'm also a Horn player myself and can easily reach high concert F on the last line on top of the staff in treble clef.  None of the low notes are out of range either.  Thanks for sharing!

Terrific work! The Polonaise in the third movement is probably my favourite part of this piece. And you have done a fantastic job recreating the classical style!

Hi @J. Lee Graham,

1st Mov: Very Mozartean! The beginning reminds me the opening of Mozart's G minor Piano Quartet since the rhythm is the same. Full of vivacity and energy in the whole movement. A very enjoyable and spiritful movement. Just beware of the pedal marking when some asteriks fly up high in the middle of the score!

2nd Mov: I like the interplay between the instruments and you don't only go for pretty melody in the violin. Lovely.

3rd Mov: You begin in the exact same way as the 1st mov! I do think the theme de Russa is more a livlier version of the 1st mov but since the tempo is really similar and the meter also, so they are not too distinctive for me. They are very fluent but quitr in a similar manner with the 1st movement. I do hope there's more contrast with the 1st mov given how well you can write!

I agree with Peter and Carl the Polonaise is more enjoyable, with its more distinctive rhthym. But I enjoy this movement if it's taken alone!

Overall it's a very enjoyable and youthful work! I love it and thanks for re-joining us!

Henry

20 hours ago, Rich said:

 A completely charming, engaging piece.  Could have been penned by the master himself---Mozart, of course.

@Rich:  You flatter me extravagantly - but I'll take it!  Thank you very much.  

20 hours ago, HtWinsor said:

Bravo! your quite the talent to say the least!

@HtWinsor  Thank you kindly!  

18 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

I am Polish and I loved your Polonaise featured in the last movement!  I don't know why you would put an alla Russa section back to back with a Polonaise since these cultures besides having a common linguistic Slavic origin aren't really all that alike.

@PeterthePapercomPoser: Ha, I'm so glad you got a kick out of the Polonaise!  You know, the historic and cultural antipathy between Russia and Poland never even occurred to me.  I know that in Russia they used to like to dance the Polonaise though - Tchaikowsky wrote one of the best ever penned for his opera "Eugene Onegin - but other than that I can't think of much in the way of respect that Russia has ever paid to the Polish people, aside from coveting their land and resources - repeatedly.

18 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

I don't know why both Musescore and your program (I think it's Finale?) both show certain notes to be out of range for the horn when they're clearly not - I think there must be some kind of error in the programming.  I'm also a Horn player myself and can easily reach high concert F on the last line on top of the staff in treble clef.  None of the low notes are out of range either.

I think it has a lot to do with what are assumed to be the reasonable limits of amateur or student musicians.  It may also be due in part to the fact that Finale assumes Horn in F when figuring range, but I'm not sure.  Thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the piece! 

13 hours ago, Carl Koh Wei Hao said:

Terrific work! The Polonaise in the third movement is probably my favourite part of this piece. And you have done a fantastic job recreating the classical style!

@Carl Koh Wei Hao:  Thanks!  and yaayyyy, another thumbs up for the Polonaise, possibly my favourite part of the whole piece.  Thanks for your compliments - I've been composing in Classical style since I was 9 years old, and I'm a lot older than most of you here, so I've been at it long enough!  

@Henry Ng Tsz Kiu:  Thank you for yet another thoughtful and generous review!  

5 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Just beware of the pedal marking when some asteriks fly up high in the middle of the score!

Those are supposed to be "hidden" - I didn't really want to specifically indicate pedaling to a live player, but only to direct Finale how to play it - but they still show up during playback.  They are not in the final printed version.  

5 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

I agree with Peter and Carl the Polonaise is more enjoyable, with its more distinctive rhthym. But I enjoy this movement if it's taken alone!

Yet another vote for the alla Polacca!  Hooray!  Thanks again Henry!  I'm extremely busy, but I've been enjoying this more than I have at times in the past, so I may just keep coming back whenever I can.