String Trio for George Crumb
Greg Bartholomew
About this work:
Commissioned by the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium in honor of George Crumb on the occasion of his 75th birthday, the String Trio was premiered by Third Angle New Music Ensemble, at Beall Concert Hall, Eugene, Oregon, July 3, 2004. A revised score was premiered by the Accessible Contemporary Music Ensemble at the Green Mill, Chicago, on April 20, 2005, and released by the Langroise Trio on their new CD Volante.
The first movement is constructed almost entirely from the initial and final letters of Crumb’s name: the pitches G, E, C and B ("GEorGE CrumB"). The second and third movements each extend 75 measures, marking Crumb’s 75 years. The second movement is based on the Sarabanda theme from Crumb’s extended work for electric string quartet, Black Angels, which is quoted at section B of the second movement. The pitches G, E, C and B recur as a motif in the third movement, but this time it is G# and C#, as the piece concludes with a bit of fun.
1st Movement: Adagio – Animato (3:59)
2nd Movement: Grave all’antico – Moderato (3:36)
3rd Movement: Presto – Legato dolce (3:12)
For information about the composer, visit www.gregbartholomew.com.
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 00:11:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:String Trio
Instrumentation: 1 Violin, 1 Viola, 1 Cello