MUSIC FOR TRIO AND ORCHESTRA / TRIO
1997

This composition emerged from the opportunity to write an original work for the De Montfort University Orchestra, conducted by David Lawrence. The Trio came first—an independent piece that can exist with or without orchestral accompaniment. Written in a light, accessible contrapuntal style, it unfolds across three movements: the first spotlighting the cello, the second the flute, and the third the clarinet. The orchestral accompaniment, however, deliberately contrasts with the Trio’s clarity, embracing an avant-garde approach. The outer movements rely on graphical notation, shaping a texture-driven soundscape, while the central section follows a conventionally notated score, driving forward with a rhythmically precise scherzo in shifting time signatures. I find the juxtaposition of these contrasting elements intriguing—it’s as if a trio arrives expecting to play at a wedding, only to realize they’ve stumbled into an avant-garde concert hall. This tension between expectation and abstraction shaped the work’s character. At the same time, this approach served a practical purpose. Knowing that the audience primarily attended for the orchestra’s popular classical repertoire, I felt, rightly or wrongly, that I had to meet both them and the performers halfway—balancing familiarity with experimentation.