Revisiting repertoire

I had a bit of homework to do after I was thrown a number of possibilities for putting together a program.

Most of the studies in Schumann’s Études symphoniques, op. 13, are variations on a theme. Taking a page from Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations op. 120, the theme serves more as inspiration than template from which Schumann composed his variations.

I submitted a list of pieces that I had performed or competed with since high school. We went through the list by period and considered ways to fill in gaps.

I decided it was time to return to lessons.

To start, I played through most of the Beethoven op. 101 sonata. After a concert of trio repertoire, I had spent little time on solo works, and hoped that I would play something from that program. Instead I improvised this performance.

Program Notes

Raised in northern Vermont, Pierre Jalbert (b. 1967) studied piano and composition at Oberlin Conservatory, and was a student of the George Crumb at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his doctorate in composition. He employs a wide gamut of available harmonies in his compositions, and creates vivid timbres with a pulse, which are on full display in this trio.