Trio No. 2 for Viola, Clarinet, and Piano

This Trio is as close as I ever came to the mid-20th century new music practice. It makes high demands for rhythmic and articulation precision. Rhythms often suspend any sense of regular pulse. Textures are constructed in mosaic-like bits and pieces. The effect is of a machine working in a cool and detached way, and yet with curious and enigmatic bursts of temperament.

The second movement is a three-part song form. The A and A’ sections reference the Schubert song, Du Bist Die Ruh. The middle section is a brief and beautiful soliloquy for the viola. This kind of tonal quoting became current in the 1960s and ’70s. It was something of a mannerism of the time, but my quoting this particular Schubert song opened my mind to my own deepest heart center. From this point on my music moved progressively to clear tonality and singing melody.