Presents
Nikolai Amani
String Trio in for Violin, Viola & Cello, Op.1
Nikolai Amani (1872-1904) was born in the Russian capital St. Petersburg and attended the Conservatory there where he studied piano with Anna Essipova and composition with Rimsky Korsakov and Liadov. Korsakov introduced him to M. P. Belaiev, the wealthy Russian music publisher and amateur violist, and brought him along to Belaiev's famous Les Vendredi, the Friday evening chamber music sessions held at Belaiev's mansion. The trio, which was awarded the top prize by the Russian Musical Society in 1900, was composed to be played at one of Belaiev's Fridays. He contracted tuberculosis which hampered his ability to compose and subsequently led to his death at an early age. The trio is his only chamber work.
While the trio bears the dedication 'To my dear master Rimsky-Korsakov' his teacher's influence is not evident and this is not a Russian sounding trio. It opens with a melancholy Allegro moderato introduction. The main part of the first movement, Allegro, is characterized by agitation and unrest. The second movement, Andante, has a vocal quality based on a simple melody. The Intermezzo, allegro scherzando, which follow contain folk melodies and sport a charming and inventive accompaniment. The lively finale, Rondo, allegro molto, has a fleet-footed main theme and two good lyrical secondary subjects. The tonalities are akin to what Central European composers were writing about this time.
The trio does not present any unusual technical difficulties and can be recommended for concert performance and to amateur players.
Parts: $19.95
