For several centuries, composers have treated string quartets as the ultimate framework of chamber music for expressing one’s inner thoughts and emotions.
String trios were regarded as having a missing limb, and until recently there were fewer compositions written for three chamber musicians.
However, Frank Ho (violin), Vladimir Ruffino (violin), and Fabiola Amorim (viola) showcase how the three instruments share an equal footing in the musical conversation.
The threesome is back as St. Albert Chamber Music Society guests on Sunday, May 4 at St. Albert United Church. They will perform four pieces including Robert Rival’s Semitragic Waltz; Antonin Dvorák’s Terzetto; Peter Jancewicz’s Devil’s Garden and Zoltan Kodály’s Serenade.
The concert stems from a project Ho, Ruffino and Amorin developed nearly two years ago. They played a concert as a threesome, and it proved exceedingly successful. Ruffino approached the Edmonton Art Council for a grant to record an album.
The album, titled Dialogue, is hot off the press and will be released Sunday, May 4 as part of the chamber music concert.
“The formation of a string trio is unusual, but a string trio actually has a dialogue taking alternative roles in everything. We all take turns in all the roles talking to each other. That’s why our album is called Dialogue,” Riuffino said.
The program begins with Rival’s Semitragic Waltz, a melancholic work commissioned by the trio. Written in three days, Rival initially wrote it as an upright waltz. But by adding a few tweaks here and there, he truncated some bars creating unpredictable changes.
Following is Dvorák’s Terzetto published in 1887. The piece was originally intended to be played by the composer and two of his friends said Ruffino. While the first part is sweetly lyrical, the second becomes more exciting.
Jancewicz’s Devil’s Garden is also a commission by the trio. It is a fantasy inspired by strange desert rock formation’s in Utah’s southern parks.
“It sounds like an offbeat waltz and every once in a while you can hear a ricochet and you can imagine rocks falling down,” Ruffino said.
Closing the concert is Kodály’s Serenade. The work is typical of the Hungarian composer’s late romantic style of blending folk-inspired music and modern harmonies.
Many trios and quartets tend to overlook modern living composers in favour of the old masters. And Canadian composers are just starting to find a foothold in the composing pantheon. However, the Edmonton-based trio commissioned 50 per cent of their concert music from Canadians.
“It’s important to commission new pieces that make music come alive. It’s not just music. It’s the artist collaboration between the composer and musicians. It’s the collaboration that makes it more meaningful and inspiring,” Ruffino said.
“We like to promote Canadian music. It’s so important to us and there are so many great composers who need space to be heard and we’re glad to include them in our album.”
Clara Knoefel,14, a St. Albert vocalist who is performing at St. Albert Rotary Music Festival’s Encore festival is opening the afternoon as the emerging artist. She competed in voice at provincial level festivals and was recommended for nationals in 2023 and 2024.
The concert starts Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Albert United Church. Tickets are $40 adults, $35 seniors and $15 students. They are available in person at Musée Heritage Museum or online at Eventbrite.
