excerpt :

"Urban Myths" (328K)

performed by The Macquarie Trio -

Kathryn Selby - piano

Nicholas Milton - violin

Michael Goldschlager - cello

about "Urban Myths".........

Email to “Macquarie trio” from composer :

Before I get started on the commission, I would welcome any input from the players that could  be relevant (in any way at all) to the compositional process.

A response : (from Herr Goldschlager) 

"My only thoughts about the commission are these:

Our audience, as you have probably observed, is our only source of

income. We rely upon their continued patronage and subscriptions.

We are working at trying to expand our audience base, but, since we are none of us "young and  beautiful" we are at a distinct disadvantage in the Australian market.

If I may be bold, I just hope that whatever you write will be something  that is easily understood.

Our audiences were chagrined by pieces as “modern" as the 1904 Ives Trio. So, can I ask that there be a CHOON?

Kathy is good at pyrotechnics and most things in general. I'm best at the

long melody. Nick is good at everything.

Humour wouldn't go amiss, if that is your thing.

It could have the "spoken word" in it, if that interests you....

Or a theatre piece in some sense....

Something tuneful, soulful and Aussie is about the best wish-list I can

generate.

What do you make of that?"

I find it really important and somehow crucial to the compositional process to know for whom I am writing on both a musical and a personal level.

Much of my work has been commissioned by or for musicians whom I have either played with at some time or happen to know quite well. I’m always interested in finding out what sort of piece might be useful in the context of their existing repertoire and what the expectations of their audience are.

Despite the absence of theatrics & spoken word, Michael Goldschlager’s response actually played a significant part in informing my compositional approach towards this piece.

It is primarily melodic & lyrical in nature, & hopefully the overall structure (slow / fast / slow) is simple & obvious enough to be “easily understood”. 

“Urban Myths” is a single movement work of about 8 minutes duration & was commissioned by (& is dedicated to) the Macquarie trio with generous financial assistance from Macquarie University, N.S.W.