Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Kenneth Leighton
Piano Trio (1965)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Programme Note
Piano Trio, Op. 46
1. Allegro con Moto
2. Scherzo
3. Hymn
This work was composed during 1965, and in the same year it won the Bernhard Sprengel Prize for Chamber Music in Hanover from an entry of over seventy works. The first performance was given in Milan by the Trio di Trieste, who have performed the Trio many times in various continental centres.
The music is perhaps more directly tonal, more lyrical and lean in texture than preceding works, and the design is quite straightforward.
The first movement has three main subjects all inter-related; a first tune, lyrical and restrained, a second more agitated section, and a third paragraph again lyrical which expands into an extended middle section. The melodic material is constantly transformed, but a kind of recapitulation comes at the climax of the middle section, and the movement ends with a quiet new version of the first section.
The Scherzo has two distinct themes - also derived from the first movement - and a Trio section which particularly highlights the contrast between piano and string sonorities.
The final Hymn follows without a break and starts with a kind of chorale melody punctuated by the first movement's motto on strings. This motto is built up into a central contrapuntal paragraph, and this continues against the return of the chorale melody on the piano - first in D flat major and then in D major again.
© Kenneth Leighton
1. Allegro con Moto
2. Scherzo
3. Hymn
This work was composed during 1965, and in the same year it won the Bernhard Sprengel Prize for Chamber Music in Hanover from an entry of over seventy works. The first performance was given in Milan by the Trio di Trieste, who have performed the Trio many times in various continental centres.
The music is perhaps more directly tonal, more lyrical and lean in texture than preceding works, and the design is quite straightforward.
The first movement has three main subjects all inter-related; a first tune, lyrical and restrained, a second more agitated section, and a third paragraph again lyrical which expands into an extended middle section. The melodic material is constantly transformed, but a kind of recapitulation comes at the climax of the middle section, and the movement ends with a quiet new version of the first section.
The Scherzo has two distinct themes - also derived from the first movement - and a Trio section which particularly highlights the contrast between piano and string sonorities.
The final Hymn follows without a break and starts with a kind of chorale melody punctuated by the first movement's motto on strings. This motto is built up into a central contrapuntal paragraph, and this continues against the return of the chorale melody on the piano - first in D flat major and then in D major again.
© Kenneth Leighton
Media
Piano Trio, Op. 46: I. Allegro con moto
Piano Trio, Op. 46: II. Scherzo
Piano Trio, Op. 46: III. Hymn. Lento, molto sostenuto
Scores
Score sample
Reviews
I cannot think, offhand, of a British piano trio finer than this - perhaps Rubbra's Second is its equal, although that is more intensely composed piece in terms of texture. Indeed it is difficult not to use the word 'masterpiece' in considering Leighton's Piano Trio.
1st October 2002
Discography
Piano Quintet etc.
- LabelMeridian
- Catalogue NumberCDE84465
- EnsembleEdinburgh String Quartet
- SoloistRobert Markham, piano
- Released2003
Piano Trio etc.
- LabelDutton Vocalion
- Catalogue NumberCDLX7118
- SoloistLorraine McAslan, violin; Andrew Fuller, cello; Michael Dussek, piano
- Released2002