Looking back over the past 100 years, it would seem that the string quartet has been the most popular outlet for contemporary composers most intimate thoughts. It may have taken longer for the unique blend of violin, piano and cello to catch up in terms of repertoire, but this remarkable disc displays the diverse voices that can be heard in this form. The Finn Segerstam has been best known as an orchestral conductor and a very prolific composer (as of January 2nd of this year, he had composed 173 symphonies). This Trio is a perfect example of the free-flowing, almost improvisational style he calls free-pulsative. Needless to say, Hans Werner Henze has now achieved status as one of the world s most significant composers, and his early Kammersonate reflects the neo-classical influences of the post-War era. Both Sharafyan and Mansurian are Armenian. Sharafyan s music is rooted in ancient Armenian culture, while Mansurian s approach is in a more personalized, mystical vein. Finally, the Baird Trio s cellist, Jonathon Golove, has contributed a work using material from an opera based on Dashiell Hammett s Red Harvest. The Baird Trio, in residence at the University of Buffalo, performs a wide range of repertoire, devoting particular attention to rarely heard and recent original works for their medium. The members believe the piano trio has a significant role to play in 21st century musical life.
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