Piano Trio

This work was written in 2012 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the SIMOENS TRIO, commissioned by Villarte vzw. The source of inspiration was a phrase from the poem “Die Stille” by Rainer Maria RILKE: “...Der Abdruck meiner kleinsten Bewegung bleibt in der seidenen Stille sichtbar...” It became a very intimate work in which the melody and melodic development form the most important basic elements. In this introspective and meditative work, the dynamics evolve between the limits of the “audible” (ppppp) and mezzopiano (mp), so that at certain moments fixed pitch and coloured noise merge imperceptibly. The work consists of seven movements, each with its own energy, which flow into one another. This composite requires exceptional virtuosity from the performers. More detailed information: In the first movement, a very high melody on the violin merges with deeper cello sounds and pointillistic interventions on the piano. In the second movement, the piano is accompanied by coloured noise and pizzicatos on the violin and cello as counter-voices. In the third movement, a heterophonic dialogue between violin and cello in the same register contrasts with the wide chords of the piano. The fourth and fastest movement demonstrates virtuoso piano passages in the low register, contrasted with high melodic lines in the cello and violin. In the fifth movement, the cello forms the basis of the fragmented sounds; short, contrasting motivic cells are placed next to each other in a random pattern. The piano produces an almost gamelan-like sound, while the violinist plays a penetrating melody on the lowest G string. The calm and intimacy return completely in the sixth movement. Melodic fragments are combined with rustling sounds. The seventh movement provides the culminating moment of this work, with the three instruments developing their own melodic and rhythmic material. Arpeggios can be heard across the entire register of the piano. In addition to the melodic material, the violinist and cellist also play arpeggios across the four strings of their instruments. Gradually, rustling sounds (such as tremolos and harmonics) make their appearance on the violin and cello, combined with high, chorale-like chords on the piano. This last movement forms the synthesis of the work, which has something of a meditation about it and requires particular concentration and virtuosity from its performers.