i Allegro, ii Andante in C major, iii Allegretto
The Piano Trio No. 6 in G major, K. 564, was written by Mozart in 1788 and is part of his series of piano trios. It is originally scored for piano, violin and cello. This is a subtle work, and charm is the main characteristic of the Trio in G. A piano sonata served as the basis for the work, and Mozart’s craftsmanship can be seen in the clever way he was able to write completely independent parts for the two string players. The C major Theme in the Andante has a slightly naive, folk quality. Each player takes a turn with the theme to create a sequence of captivating and entertaining Variations. The fifth of the set, in the minor, has an somewhat unearthly atmosphere, which is speedily banished by the cheeky last Variation. The Finale is in a lilting 6/8 rhythm; in its more discreet moments it is almost an aristocratic Siciliano, while at other times it has a more rustic and Ländlerish swing.
Variation 1: Aubade, Variation 2: Tempo di Valse, Variation 3: Serenade, Variation 4: Tarantella, Variation 5: Fugal March (Finale)
Phyllis Tate was an English composer known for forming unusual instrumental combinations in her output. She is mainly remembered for her works for solo and chamber ensembles, rather than larger scale forms. She composed this piece in 1958.
This piece is the first movement of the Nutcracker suite
"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is a dance for a ballerina. It is the third movement in The Nutcracker pas de deux. This pas de deux is from Act 2 of the 1892 ballet The Nutcracker. It is danced by the principal female dancer.
The "Waltz of the Flowers" (1892) is a piece of orchestral music from the second act of The Nutcracker, a ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky told his fellow musicians he was working on a "fantastic" ballet called The Nutcracker: "It's awfully fun to write a march for tin soldiers, a waltz of the flowers, etc."
i Introduction, ii Scherzo, iii Dialog, iv Finale.
Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano (1992) features elements inspired by Armenian folk music. One is the appearance throughout of the interval of the augmented second, a gesture typical of Caucasian music. Racing vernacular rhythms drive the dance-like pulse of the second-movement Scherzo and finale, alternating with soulful lyrical episodes for violin and clarinet.
Inknield Clarinet Ensemble (Clarinet Trio)
Mark Lacey
Mark Lacey studied the clarinet with Sidney Fell, and at the Royal Academy of Music with Richard Addison and Keith Puddy. He has performed regularly with many of the UK’s leading opera companies including English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, English Touring Opera, Cambridge Opera Group, Garsington Opera, Grange Park Opera, Carl Rosa Opera Company and Pimlico Opera.
Mark has also performed in many theatre productions, for Chichester Festival Theatre, (including the national tour and the West End transfer of Nicholas Nickleby) the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Exchange Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. An active chamber musician, Mark is a founder member of chamber group Harmoniemusik with which he has travelled widely giving more than 300 concerts in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany and beyond since it was founded in 1991.
Arwen Newband
Arwen Newband is a violinist with wide ranging experience as a chamber musician, soloist, orchestral player and teacher. Together with her regular duo partner Anna Le Hair she has performed many concerts and the two of them were for some years members of the Icknield Piano Trio. She is a founder member and leader of the Hertfordshire based Icknield Ensemble.
Originally from New Zealand, she completed a music degree at Auckland University and worked with the Auckland Philharmonia before travelling to the UK where she studied with Emanuel Hurwitz. She spent the early years of her career freelancing as an orchestral musician including the CBSO, Sadlers Wells Ballet and City of London Sinfonia. She also led and played as soloist with the Vivaldi Concertante. More recently she has devoted her energies to playing chamber music including concerts for the Piano Trio Society and Trunch Festival. She also enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities.
Anna Le Hair
Anna Le Hair gained an honours degree in music at Edinburgh University, and her postgraduate studies were at the Royal College of Music, London. Anna has a busy and varied career as a performer, teacher, accompanist, ABRSM examiner, adjudicator and conductor. Engagements have included recitals, both solo and as chamber musician and accompanist, as well as soloist in several piano concertos, in many venues in London and around Britain and abroad. Anna currently teaches piano and accompanies at St Albans School, and she also has a thriving private teaching practice at her home in Tring. She is the founder of and runs the successful ‘Piano and more’ concert series at St Peter and St Paul church in Tring and is a founder member of the Icknield Ensemble. She completed her first international examining tour for ABRSM in summer 2019 to Malaysia. Anna has several upcoming performances, details of which can be found on her website.
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