Output details
35 - Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts
University of Sheffield
Michael Nyman Chamber Music Volume 1
Piano Trios 1992-2010
CD release on MN Records
Performed by The Fidelio Trio
World premiere recordings of Poczatek and The Photography of Chance
Michael Nyman, internationally recognised composer of music for film and The Michael Nyman Band in particular, has worked closely with The Fidelio Trio since 2005. The invitation to record this first volume of his chamber music was an opportunity to focus on a more traditional, intimate and revealing medium. The importance of this CD lies in creating an energy from three players that would normally be expected from a larger ensemble. Articulation and use of dynamics became key to clarity of texture, evoking characteristic rhythms and the searing melodies and terraced dynamics heard in the amplified Michael Nyman Band. The CD also reveals Nyman’s journey in the medium; hearing the oldest work (“Time Will Pronounce”) in this context highlighted for him its impact and immediacy.
In “Poczatek” the interpretative challenge was the consolidation of larger forces into a trio. Unison voicing of violin and piano right-hand meant developing a unified articulation revealing the importance of the endings as well as attack of notes, in order to sound like one instrument. “The Photography of Chance” (UK premiere by the trio, London 2005), contains much more dynamic detail. Nyman made major adjustments to this work after rehearsing and discussing the piece with the trio; lengths of passages, alteration of registrations, adding octaves to orchestrate more weightily, slurs and articulations. The interpretative approach in the case of “In Time Will Pronounce” was to utilise subtle differences in projection of each instrument at any one time to sustain repetitions at high volume. The Fidelio Trio have performed these works throughout the UK, Ireland and the USA including Belfast Film Festival 2012 with 2 short films by Nyman, to positive critical reception (The Strad, BBC Music Magazine, 2013). It exemplifies their aim to reinvigorate compositional and performance interest in the genre.
