Tuesday November 10, 2009

Charley anticipates the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio's joint recital with the Miami String Quartet tomorrow.
Friends of Chamber Music
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 2 in G major, Op.1 No. 2
Joan Tower: For Daniel (5/4/05)
Also, Charley anticipates John Brehm and Susan Cable's program of poetry and music this Friday.
John Brehm, poet; Susan Cable, piano
"Tough Town" (0:48) & "Help is on the Way" (1:12) from Small Talk
KVOD Performance Studio 11/3/09 MS


“I never learned anything from Haydn,” Beethoven claimed. The remark is typical of Beethoven, perhaps more an indication of professional jealousy than real enmity. He studied with Haydn until January, 1794. By then, Haydn had already made one triumphant trip to England and was world famous. Beethoven at the time was still working on his first published compositions, a set of three piano trios.
There was a private performance of all three at the home of Prince Karl von Lichnowsky, to whom the works were dedicated. Beethoven himself played the piano part, with violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh and cellist Anton Kraft.
Beethoven’s pupil, Ferdinand Ries, was there and reported that “most of the artists and music-lovers were invited, especially Haydn, for whose opinion all were eager. The Trios were played and at once commanded extraordinary attention. Haydn also said many pretty things about them, but advised Beethoven not to publish the third, in C minor. This astonished Beethoven, inasmuch as he considered the third the best of the Trios, as it is still the one which gives the most pleasure and makes the greatest effect. Consequently, Haydn’s remark left a bad impression on Beethoven and led him to think that Haydn was envious, jealous and ill-disposed toward him.”
“Powerful, mighty and moving,” an 1806 review said of the Op. 1 Trios. “Novelty and profusion, the ease with which he used his harmonic resources, a certain idiosyncrasy of style and treatment gave us every reason to suppose that the still young man would turn into an original and brilliant composer.”

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Joan Tower grew up in South America, where her father was a mining engineer. Returning to the United States at eighteen, she attended Bennington College and Columbia University, where she received a doctorate in composition. A founding member of the Da Capo Chamber Players, she played piano and composed for the group for fifteen years. Her five Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman have been played by over 400 different ensembles. Since 1972, Tower has taught at Bard College.