NOVEMBER 4, 2008
The Newstead Trio Concert, October 18
The Newstead Trio concert on October 18 gave us a dazzling look at what a Carnegie Hall performance sounds like it. The adventurous program was the Trio’s dress rehearsal for its October 25 Carnegie Hall concert, which was already exciting. The music itself was exciting as well, with two works by familiar composers and two by composers totally unknown. The performers were superb, playing with verve and extraordinary skill.
The theme of the concert, a fascinating one, was folk music themes from various countries. The concert began with a piece called “Café Music,” by Paul Schoenfield, a contemporary composer. This piece was a fun, jazzy composition with catchy tunes in the first movement, a lush, bluesy mood in the second movement (with a terrific cello solo), and a fast-paced final movement that echoed Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” a bit. Clearly the folk music was American jazz.
The Shostakovich piano trio that came next was a more challenging piece to listen to, with sections that were dissonant but many that were not. The program notes confirmed what my ear was telling me: that there were sections reminiscent of Russian folk songs and Yiddish dance tunes. I loved the moody first movement that featured the cello (you can guess that I love cello music), as well as the lively second movement that used the violin and cello almost as percussion instruments. The third movement featured dramatic piano chords, heavily pedaled, and the final part was very dramatic with strong melodies. Overall, it was an accessible piece when my ears got used to it and the melodies came through.
After the intermission the Trio played a composition by Chinese composer Chen Yi, who blends Chinese and Western traditions. The piece, composed for the Newstead Trio for the opening of the new performance hall at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, was titled “Tunes from my Homeland.” The piece definitely had a Chinese feel to it, with completely different harmonics, but it was not as dissonant as I expected it to be. The piano sections were particularly effective, with the second movement (called “Nostalgia”) creating a beautiful rippling effect.
With the final piece, a Dvorak Piano Trio, we were back in my comfort zone. There were lots of Slavic folk melodies and dances, with alternating slow and fast movements seguing into each other.
It was a breathtaking evening of talent. The Newstead Trio has been performing together for 15 years, and it shows. The group plays together as one organic whole, practically breathing in unison, and the artists truly play at a Carnegie Hall level. We were indeed fortunate to be present at its dress rehearsal.
Nancy MacRae, Schellsburg