Trio for Flute, ‘Cello and Piano
Poco Allegretto
Adagio
Andante-Allegretto Scherzando
Bohuslav Martinu was born in the bell tower of the Bohemian village of Policka and was active as a musician from the age of 15. He was expelled from the Prague Conservatoire at the age of 20 and thereafter led a peripatetic and prolific musical life, first in Paris, then in exile in the USA during the Second World War, and finally in Switzerland – the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia meant he could never return.
The Trio for Flute, ‘cello and piano dates from 1944, and belongs, therefore, to his period of exile in America. It is typical of the composer’s brisk and colourful chamber music style, and is in three movements: a vigorous Poco allegretto, a deeply-felt Adagio, and a very lively finale preceded by a flute-led Andante introduction.
R. G. Bratby 1999
Copyright Classical Notes.co.uk 2000
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