Almeda Trio
Haydn, Shostakovich, Brahms

The Almeda Trio is not quite a year old, but it certainly exhibits an impressive maturity, not to mention a terrific degree of togetherness in this, it's first CD. As trio-in-residence at The Cleveland Music School Settlement, the group is dedicated to performance, education and community outreach. Trio members are Robert Cassidy, piano; Cara Tweed, violin; and Ida Mercer, cello, and all are on the faculty at the Music Settlement.

The trio chose a wide variety of music for this CD: the elegant 18th--century Haydn, the romantic and luxuriant 19th-century Brahms, and the stark, spare 20th-century Shostakovich. Each work is demanding in its own way, from stately periods of melodic harmonies to mild discordancy to busy octaves and scales. It's a wonderful sampler of piano trio literature and an exemplary showpiece for this new trio. No demands are made on the musicians that are not promptly met with grace and musicality, and there is wonderful attention given to dynamics throughout. The recording was made from a live performance at Cleveland State University's Drinko Hall in January, 2009, but the audience was very well-behaved. Were it not for applause, it could have been taken for a studio recording.

For some reason, this work by Franz Joseph Haydn (Trio in G Major ("Zigeuner"), Hob.XV: 25) is not so well-known as many other piano trios. This performance should bring many new friends to it, considering the delicate yet crisp playing in the first movement Andante, the introspective nature of the Poco Adagio, and the frisky ''Finale: Presto;;, which provides the nickname – gypsy style. It is indeed fiery and rambunctious, contrasting nicely with the elegance of the first two movements.

Dmitri Shostakovich suffered greatly during WWII; his works were consistently denounced by his government. While he continued composing, (this trio dates from 1944)it was harder and harder to secure performances without incurring the wrath of Soviet leaders. This inner struggle is evident from the very first fragile harmonics of his Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 played on the violin through the harsh dissonance exhibited by all the performers throughout. The second movement is characterized by crashing chords and octaves and scales run up and down by all three performers in a ‘busy, busy’ syndrome, until the sudden and abrupt ending.

The plaintive melody on the violin returns in the Largo, following more great chords on the piano. No matter how depressed the composer was, however, he almost always found a small portion of optimism from somewhere deep inside himself. He allowed it to emerge slightly in the final movement – Allegretto - in which the listener perceives that maybe the sun will shine again tomorrow. Or the next day, if not yet today. Ms. Tweed handled the fragile, exceedingly difficult high-range harmonics with great skill and exemplary intonation.

The Trio No.2 in C Major, Op. 87 of Johannes Brahms dates from 1882, some 15 years before his death, at a time when he had developed an acceptance of his life as it was, if not necessarily as he’d hoped it would be. Sometimes this period is referred to as ‘autumnal’ and this trio is a great example of that meaning. The allegro (first movement) begins with lush unison playing that is almost majestic in its melodic nature. The three musicians take turns expressing their opinion, musically speaking, that is.

Brahms turns somewhat contemplative in the second movement, andante con moto, before rousing everyone with a busy scherzo. The finale, allegro giocoso, might be translated as ‘humorous, lively, playful quality’ and that it is. There is much more here of the traditional give-and-take between the three equals, just having fun in the process.

The piano trio repertoire is fairly large; we can but hope for more renditions by the Almeda Trio. This CD represents the first available recording made by them. The privately produced CD is $15. To purchase your copy, please e-mail AlmedaTrio@themusicsettlement.org.

http://www.almedatrio.com
http://www.themusicsettlement.org

It's a CD Release party and recital. The Almeda Trio shares some of the music from their first CD along with a bit of Piazzolla and others in a recital on Fri 9/11 at 7:30PM at The Corning Mansion, in Bratenahl. CDs available for purchase and signing. Enjoy wine on the lakefront terrace and desserts & coffee with the performers, with on-site parking. Limited seating. Info: 216.681.1621.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz, who writes: My most recently published book is Ardenwycke Unveiled (e-book and trade paper). Cerridwen has another contemporary romance from me, But Not For Love, currently available only as an e-book, but perhaps will be in print next year. I hope to soon get around to completing some of the 30+ incomplete books in my computer!

By the way, Cerridwen has also accepted two of my short stories in their Scintillating Samples (complimentary reads) area: Song of the Swan and Unexpected Comfort. I love photography as well, as you can see here. But over and above everything else, there's always been the writing. I can't imagine my life without it.

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