Suite for String Trio

Suite for String Trio was composed as part of my graduation project in Music Composition at Simon Fraser University. The project took place from September 2011 to December 2011. The piece was read and performed by this semester’s guest musicians: a string trio, consisting of violinist Mark Ferris, violist Reg Quiring, and cellist Peggy Lee.

The work is in four movements: Introduzione, Furlana I, Furlana II, and Rondeau. The music, while inspired by video game themes, is structurally rooted in traditional dance forms.

A sombre and dreamlike introduction illustrates two contrasting characters one after the other: the nightmare and the pleasant dream. Later on, the nightmare interrupts the pleasant dream and the two alternate playfully.

Furlana I and II present two contrasting plot elements. The first furlana narrates a hero’s journey and the many conflicts and resolutions along the way. The second furlana is much slower, and personifies an old innkeeper telling a fable to young children.

Rondeau is moreorless based on the traditional rondo form, A-B-A-C-A, featuring a fast-paced driving rhythm throughout. The most defining characteristic of the A section is the extended use of pizzicato in a melodic role. The B and C sections are much more lyrical, serving as episodes between the refrain. The work comes to a close by recalling the B-section melody with much sparser rhythm (in the same tempo) and ending on a high note (pun intended) that tops off a widely spread-out chord.