Distant Carillons – program notes by David Loeb
The brass trio offers composers a wide range of expressive and technical resources, which have been comparatively little investigated since this is a relatively recent ensemble, made possible by the continuing series of significant technological advances in construction of all three instruments starting in the mid-nineteenth century. These innovations have vastly increased the versatility of these instruments without sacrificing their traditional sound colors. As one might expect, adding a piano to this ensemble creates an entirely different sound world.
Some years ago the Factory Seconds Brass Trio had performed Trasimeno, and after discussions we commenced a collaborative effort. The other four compositions on this album were written especially for them (with an eventual recording in mind), and as each piece was finished they presented the first performances.
Madrigaletti (2016) utilizes the wide range of compositional techniques cultivated by late Renaissance composers of secular and sacred madrigals: imitative counterpoint, angular rhythms, highly contrasting textures, lyrical melodies almost vocal in character, abrupt shifts of texture, mood and dynamics – all lightened by occasional touches of subtle humor.
Remembrances (2015) evokes the form and expansive character of Romantic piano chamber music, with long thematic ideas extensively developed, a light and mysterious scherzo, the incredibly warm and expressive color of the three brass instruments playing unison melodies, and the highly diverse relationships between piano and brass in the finale.
Trasimeno (1985) was written shortly after several weeks of wandering through Northern Italy. We had searched for and found a lake in a flat plain, supposedly the site of one of Hannibal’s victories over Roman legions in the 3rd century BCE. However the topography of the area didn’t correspond to the historical account of a hillside ambush. In some peculiar way writing this piece exorcised my preoccupation with this insoluble historical conundrum.
Distant Carillons (2016) again evokes Romantic piano chamber music, but not in the same ways as in the earlier quartet. The main idea of the first movement has a much more typically brass character. The scherzo has a much more open atmosphere, with frequent exchanges of points of sound. The slow movement again exploits brass unisons, but this time alternating with solo horn passages suggesting an ancient call and response. After some very loud moments the piece ends very quietly, suggesting very distant bell echoes.
Cantata Senza Voci (2016) reflects my deep admiration for the hundreds of Bach cantatas, a repertoire which offers almost limitless resources of character, mood, and texture, effortlessly reconciling voices and instruments. However the application of these aspects to a context without actual voices in no way accounts for the extreme technical and musical difficulties of this composition, which these players have mastered with consummate grace.
The Factory Seconds Brass Trio comprises Jack Sutte, trumpet; Jesse McCormick, horn; and Richard Stout, trombone. They occupy the second chairs of their respective instruments in the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. They all teach at the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory where they are also a faculty ensemble in residence. For further information please consult their website: www.factoryseconds.org
Christina Dahl is a versatile pianist with an impressive performance (both solo and collaborative) and teaching history. She has taught at the State University of New York – Stony Brook for more than twenty years. For further information please consult: www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/music/people/faculty-and-staff/performace/christina_dahl
For more information concerning David Loeb, please consult his website: www.davidloebmusic.com
Madrigaletti (2016) (8:37)
1 Moderato 1:39
2 Con Forza 1:12
3 Presto 1:39
4 Calmo 2:33
5 Scherzoso 1:33
Remembrances (2015) (15:48)
6 Grave, allegro 4:39
7 Allegro misterioso 2:45
8 Lento 4:42
9 Allegro non troppo 3:41
with Christina Dahl, piano
Trasimeno (1985) (7:06)
10 Allegro 2:21
11 Poco allegro 1:22
12 Andante 2:13
13 Allegro vivo 1:09
Distant Carillons (2016) (18:21)
14 Con forza, poco tranquillo 5:34
15 Capriccioso 1:34
16 Cantante 6:35
17 Moderato, allegro 4:37
with Christina Dahl, piano
Cantata senza Voci (1998) (10:54)
18 Allegro giocoso 1:45
19 Andante 4:33
20 Recitative: poco lento 0:36
21 Allegro scherzando 1:49
22 Andante, allegro 2:10
Total Time: 60:51
Recorded August 2017 at Waetjen Hall, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio. Engineered by David Yost. Edited and mastered by Randall Crafton. Cover art: A Winter’s Journey by Emiko Toda Loeb. Cover photo by Jean Vong.
Distant Carillons
Factory Seconds and Christina Dahl Play David Loeb
Centaur CRC 3802
www.centaurrecords.com
© 2020 Centaur Records, Inc.