SKU: PR.164002390

UPC: 680160038091.

I became interested in the work of Plato through my friend and collaborator, the writer and philosopher Paul Woodruff. Paul's new translation, with Alexander Nehamas, of the Symposium gave me insights into ancient Greek ways of thinking about Love, Beauty, and Wisdom -- and managed to keep the earthy, and often bawdy side of it all in full view. But their new translation of Plato's later dialogue Phaedrus went even further: the beauty of the speeches is breathtaking, and the discourse itself is enough to keep one awake at night. Basically the Great Speech of Socrates in the Phaedrus dialogue has to do with the place of Eros in the world, and with the conflict in the soul between fleshly pleasure and philosophic discovery. I will not attempt to encapsulate this brilliant discourse in a program note: suffice it to say that reading it gave rise to my two-sided work for clarinet, violin, and piano, Phaedrus. The first movement represents the Philosophic life, and is thus subtitled Apollo's Lyre (Invocation and Hymn). It begins with an unaccompanied melody for the clarinet, which (after a pair of harp-like flourishes for the piano, expands into an accompanied canon. The voices in the dialogue (clarinet and violin) follow each other by a prescribed number of beats, but the music is totally devoid of any meter at all. The piano, representing the lyre, accompanies this lyric love-feast with repeated strummed chords. The canon has three large sections, and ends with violin echoing the unaccompanied clarinet invocation as the sound of the lyre fades. The second movement, called Dionysus' Dream-Orgy (Ritual Dance) presents, after a brief introduction, another kind of unmetered music. Rather than long lyric flights of philosophic song, however, this time we hear a unison dance of unbridled energy and sensual transport. The piece soon forms itself into a loose arch form, with contrasting metered dance sections divided by the unison unmetered orgy tune. Midway through the movement, Apollo's melody returns from the first movement, but it is a temporary reminiscence. The orgiastic dance returns, reaches a climax, and ends with a stomping of feet. While Plato asserts that a proper balance between lust and reason is necessary in all men, he (naturally) gives the nod to Philosophy as the better choice in which to live. Not so in my music: the two sides are meant to coexist and to complement each other. No sides are taken. Phaedrus was commissioned of the Verdehr Trio by Michigan State University. It is dedicated to the Vedehr Trio with great affection and admiration.

SKU: HH.HH423-FSP

ISBN 9790708146247.

Eberl's Sonata in D major, Op. 20, the sixth of seven sonatas with violin, was composed around 1803 and dedicated to Dorothea Ertmann, the highly regarded pianist who many have suggested as Beethoven's 'Immortal Beloved', and to whom that composer dedicated his Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 101. Unlike many of Eberl's lesser contemporaries, in its duration, formal and harmonic novelty, and in the lively relationship between the violin and keyboard, his Op. 20 shares much of the musical ambition and quality of Beethoven's works in this genre. 1803 saw the publication of Eberl's Op. 20, and Beethoven's set of three sonatas with violin, Op. 30, all produced by the Bureau des Arts et d'Industrie firm in Vienna. Beethoven's set were advertised for sale in the Wiener Zeitung in May 1803, days after the premiere of his Op. 47 sonata with violin (given by George Bridgetower and Beethoven, but later dedicated to Rudolphe Kreutzer). Eberl's Op. 20 was advertised in the Wiener Zeitung six weeks later, in July 1803.

SKU: HL.48181478

UPC: 888680844554. 9x12 inches.

“Maurice Hauchard (1870-1957) was a French violinist and composer. As a minor composer, often in the shadow of his contemporary, Maurice Ravel, much of Hauchard's music is not widely known. However, his Pour distraire petit père is a charming suite, perfect for beginners. As an excellent, versatile musician, Hauchard loved his art and remains one of the greatest contributors to music education. Pour distraire petit père, which translates as 'to distract little Father' is a collection of twelve easy pieces for Violin and Piano accompaniment. Each movement is varied in tempo, time and key signatures, articulation and rhythm, making for an exciting compilation for the student. All beginners should play this quirky Hauchard suite for its engaging contrasts and distinction.&rdquo.