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As if taking part in to a house crowd, The Gryphon Trio returned to Calgary final weekend to carry out two well-attended live shows within the Calgary Professional Musica Society’s fundamental collection. The live shows have been a part of the Trio’s 30th anniversary tour, its longevity as an ensemble outstanding in a world the place chamber teams usually come and go because the wind.
Though the Gryphon Trio has lengthy been in residence at The College of Toronto, they’ve a particular connection to Alberta, Calgary being the unique house of violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon. Pianist Jamie Parker’s brother, Jon Kimura Parker, runs the Calgary-based Honens Worldwide Competitions, and the Trio has a long-standing relationship to the Banff Centre. Over time The Trio has has made many appearances in Calgary, and the sensation in the course of the live performance was just like the return of household after an absence.
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Pianist Jamie Parker launched the works on this system in an off-the-cuff, participating method, this system deliberate to offer an outline retrospective of the ensemble’s work over time. Usually, as on this occasion, the Trio’s live shows embody the usual works of the piano trio repertoire in addition to modern music, usually commissions to Canadian composers.
This program, a sampler by idea, included two of those commissions of Canadian composers,: Kelly-Marie Murphy, now a longtime determine (additionally with Calgary connections), the opposite Dinuk Wijeratne, a younger Ottawa-based composer within the forefront of Canadian music at the moment.
Following a crisply delivered, fleet account of the opening motion of Beethoven’s Piano Trio, Op. 70, No. 1 (“Ghost”), the live performance continued with the primary motion of Give me Phoenix Wings to Fly, a now frequently carried out trio by Murphy. Regardless of the considerably heroic title and implications of “grand issues,” the trio is definitely an easy, well-crafted work in a post-Stravinsky model, with a lot speedy movement in all of the devices, “dry” harmonies, and efficient contrasts. It was good to listen to this work once more, particularly as carried out by an ensemble in a position to do deal with its appreciable difficulties with ease and aplomb. An ordinary work for the Trio and with many performances below its belt, it was offered with full confidence and authority. Of the various performances I’ve heard of this trio over time, this was simply one of the best.
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As an antidote, the Trio carried out Myroslav Skoryk’s now acquainted Melody in an association for piano trio. CPO regulars will keep in mind this work, it having been performed on the opening of many live shows at the beginning of the Ukrainian invasion. Crammed with nostalgic longing, and composed within the method of movie music (the unique context for its composition), it serves as a musical reminder that even because the world consideration has turned to the Center East, the conflict in Ukraine continues, and with each day devastation. As a efficiency and for the event, it made its mark.
Dinuk Wijeratne’s identify my ring a bell with Calgarians who attended the current Banff Worldwide String Quartet Competitors. His cheeky, witty quartet was the set work on the final competitors, and far admired. Wijeratne, who’s initially from Sri Lanka and spent his early years within the Center East, likes to convey collectively components of various traditions in his music. In Love Triangle, one finds Japanese rhythmic patterns (moderately like a tabula rhythm), over which there’s a melody of Center Japanese intonation, with the bigger construction embracing Western notions of type and growth.
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Wijeratne’s music isn’t lower than imaginative, and all through the course of the 15-minute work there was a lot selection, the music constructing to 2 spectacular climaxes. As with the earlier work, the dedication of the Trio to its efficiency couldn’t be questioned: the whole lot flowed easily, and the climaxes have been achieved in a well-graded, musical approach. As with the Banff piece, Love Triangle was very warmly acquired by the viewers.
The primary half concluded with the opening motion of Brahms’s Piano Trio in B main, Op. 8, a piece the Trio has just lately recorded. For my style, as properly performed because it was —there have been no errors or efficiency points — it was considerably extra phlegmatic as a efficiency than the opposite works on the live performance.
The night concluded with Schubert’s Piano Trio in B-flat, a glowing work completely suited to the performing persona of the ensemble. With the trendy works, this trio acquired one of the best efficiency of the night, the alternate dancing and lyrical components of the music completely engaged in an exciting account of the music. A particular bravo for the scintillating finale. A Piazzolla tango was the encore, sending everybody house in one of the best of spirits.
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