Hanging around
Hanging around (2004)
Commissioned by the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst. Written for the Osiris Trio.
My music often makes high demands on the rehearsal process. Nods and secret signals between the musicians are often necessary to master the music and reach the finish line together. This time I wanted to try another tack and write a piece that would be simply fun to work on. In this piano trio the musicians can steal the march on each other in a rewarding manner, play tag and “carefree” “unconcernedly” enjoy their supple ensemble technique. Rehearsal becomes convivial again. The open and lively music begins parlando and has many changes of meter, which goes to show that after all I didn’t make it too easy for the musicians. A high level of concentration is necessary to avoid traffic accidents.
The music is not meant to be deeply philosophical. Hanging around a motif or two, it is a perilous art, but I wanted to try it just once, to see how far I got. The musical point of departure is uncomplicated, light-footed and unpretentious. A motif of three intervals is seen from various sides as through a kaleidoscope. I keep turning things around. The locomotion is energetic. The end is sad: Hesitating, with an intense sad feeling. End of the story.
For this piece a grand piano with a third pedal is required.
Performed by the Osiris Trio.