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Trio Verlaine: Lorna McGhee, Flute; David Harding, Viola; & Heidi Krutsen, Harp
Lorna McGhee, David Harding, and Heidi Krutzen’s chamber ensemble, Trio Verlaine, further explores the combination of flute, viola, and harp first developed by Claude Debussy in 1915. Drawn together through friendship and mutual interests, each member enjoys a distinguished career: Krutzen is principal harp with the Vancouver Opera, Harding is Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at Carnegie Mellon University and McGhee is Principal Flute with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Their dedication to commissioning works for this ensemble has led to two new works on this CD: Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp composed by R. Murray Schafer and Six Departures composed by Jeffery Cotton for which the CD is named. Completing the program, Sir Arnold Bax, Jeffery Cotton, R. Murray Schafer, and André Jolivet’s compositions spark the imagination in equally challenging yet different ways.
Always sensitive to the melodic line, Trio Verlaine delicately weaves colors and textures of each instrument through their music, pulling the listener’s ear on a journey. Their wise choice in album artwork also reflects the theme of color and texture. Elegiac Trio, written by Sir Arnold Bax, allows Trio Verlaine to soar through each weave of color. Jolivet’s Petite Suite encompasses enchantment and imagination, weaving together colors and textures, making it an excellent choice to conclude the CD. McGhee, Harding, and Krutsen have beautifully portrayed their instruments through the character of each work.
Trio Verlaine
Six Departures should be included in your collection. The two commissioned works are particularly telling of the ongoing work that Trio Verlaine is doing to establish and explore the possibilities of their instrumentation. See: http://trioverlaine.com/
Review by Amanda Johns
Amanda Johns was a student of Dr. Nicole Molumby at Boise State University,
where she graduated with a Master’s in Flute Performance. She performs and teaches masterclasses and workshops in Boise, Idaho, USA with her duo called IGNITE! Her performance highlights include the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, the Boise Women’s Chorus, and Opera Idaho among others. She was the founder of the Johnston Summer Flute Choir Workshop in Johnston, Iowa in 2014.
Amanda Johns
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PETER WESTBROOK