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Work Overview
I bestowed upon Elena the monumental task of composing and creating a work to celebrate my sister, Eva for her birthday. I was excited by the prospect as I felt the two of them have some similarities - age, heritage, residence in Australia and a love of fine music.
It is very difficult to put into words the ebb and flow, ups and downs, humour and tears of a complex individual, such as Eva who is so well known and loved by us and to give Elena the inspiration, to develop the means to envelop and weave Eva's soul into a classical piano trio. Elena has taken on the vision and embodied Eva's love, personality, life and tribulations into a three movement composition, which I know she will cherish. Eva will delight in the joy of sharing the unique experience of learning and performing this piano trio that has been specifically composed for her, with her children Samuel and Sarah on the cello and violin respectively.
A gift of love from me to you as 'An Embrace'.
- Helen
It is a tremendous honour to be given an opportunity to compose a piece for a special, much loved sister to Helen. The more I read about Eva, in the notes from her family the more I felt connected to her. But nothing compares to meeting the real person, which, of course, won't happen till she receives her surprise gift. So, I can only hope that what I wrote will resonate with Eva.
It was a treat to go on the journey of creating a piano trio for Eva to play with her children. Piano trios are a very beautiful combination, I love all three instruments-piano, violin, cello. It is a perfect ensemble to write for. I love the variety of textures, rhythms and atmospheres one can create.
Once I composed the whole piece, I also created an adaptation for piano solo, so that Eva can play it on her own also. The truth is though, I had to create a version for myself to play so that I can perform it for Eva, before she sees the piece for the first time on her birthday. It is much better to play from a piano score which has much less page turns then.
An Embrace is in three movements:
First movement is a gentle and lively, yet warm waltz. I chose the key of D minor to start with and it finishes in B major.
Second movement is a kind of a humoresque/polka in D major. I wanted to write a fun, uplifting movement that one can almost dance to.
Last movement is a romantic, lyrical piece unfolding with a cello melody in E minor over a sparse piano accompaniment. It keeps growing and developing until this song-like melody is reinstated at FORTE with the piano flourishing arpeggios. It ends in a quiet resolution in D major.
Elena Kats-Chernin
Work Details
Year: 2021
Instrumentation: Piano, violin, cello.
Dedication note: A birthday piece for Eva
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