Adagio 'for Eva' - Piano Trio (mp3 + score)

Hi all!

This is an Adagio for a Piano Trio composed for a flute, a violoncello and piano. As the title suggests, this Adagio is written for a dear friend, Eva, who has supported me throughout many hardships and whom I love dearly.

The music depicts the brilliant light of her soul, the ever-existing floyd-ism (sic, referring to the sweet melancholia that can result from listening to Pink Floyd) and...some turmoil and surprises. This is reflected on the piece's structure.

This Adagio was written in the December of 2006. Eva had her birthday and I decided to give her a special present. Thus, after finishing the adagio, I gave her the manuscript, which she still has.

Currently, I am rehearsing the Adagio with some friends, so as I can record a live performance of it. I shall bump this thread when I do.

Yesterday I completed the copying of the (I kept a photocopy, of course) manuscript in the computer. So, I decided to share it with you, before the actual performance. Now I am in the process of turning this into a decent score. Tell me if you want it posted.

Techniques used: nothing special...simple harmony, broken chord lyrical melody, a couple of clusters, some secondary dominants, a modulation and a modal ending...
Structure: Very straightforward, really.
Problems: Nothing, except for the tight deadline. I barely made it in time!!

Here it is...the computerized one:
SoundClick song info: Adagio 'for Eva' by Emmanouel Sgouridis - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads

The score is attached below.

Enjoy!

I love the sounds of these 3 instruments together and you have done fine job of bringing them together. I look forward to hearing it performed.

Mano,

This is a lovely piece. It has something of "love" in the air... Who is Eva?

The rendering is not bad at all, if I may add as well!

I do see a little bit of static harmony, but it certainly is much more complex than the other works I've seen. And additionally, the orchestration works very well if I may add. (The middle section in minor, sounds really cliché though, I have to admit). But when the piano enters, everything is fixed again.

The strong modal sense works miracles in this work! Well done!

It has plenty of variation in who gets the themes, what's going on, why and because. All is there. It is a very well crafted piece! I'm not sure if I would change anything myself. And what a nice and unexpected ending! Like saying hello, right before you leave the door! but I feel that it has a point here.(thus: kudos!)

Well done!

I'm looking forward to the live recording.

Originally Posted by rolifer

I love the sounds of these 3 instruments together and you have done fine job of bringing them together. I look forward to hearing it performed.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my music, I am also (deeply) enamored of these instruments. Especially the way the violoncello blends with the flute for expressive, lyrical melodies...simply delicious!

I am in the process of composing a similar piano trio, performed along with Greek poetry (from me ).

I am glad you liked my work!

I hope we can do a decent recording, as we're...ahem, beginners...

Originally Posted by nikolas

Mano,

This is a lovely piece. It has something of "love" in the air... Who is Eva?

The rendering is not bad at all, if I may add as well!

I do see a little bit of static harmony, but it certainly is much more complex than the other works I've seen. And additionally, the orchestration works very well if I may add. (The middle section in minor, sounds really cliché though, I have to admit). But when the piano enters, everything is fixed again.

The strong modal sense works miracles in this work! Well done!

It has plenty of variation in who gets the themes, what's going on, why and because. All is there. It is a very well crafted piece! I'm not sure if I would change anything myself. And what a nice and unexpected ending! Like saying hello, right before you leave the door! but I feel that it has a point here.(thus: kudos!)

Well done!

I'm looking forward to the live recording.

Eva is a dear friend and a distant relative. So, no, there aren't any 'steamy' undercurrents here! But, indeed, there is a lot of love involved, given and received. She is one of the few people in my life that can 'heal' me...

The rendering is passable. The human playback messed with some of my fermatas and the sound of the cello solo is still...not there.

You don't see a little bit of static harmony, you see a lot of it! I used some maj7 and min7 chords which seemed to work well and not mess with the 'cliched' atmosphere I wanted to produce!

About the orchestration and the overall balance: such a compliment coming from you means very much to me. I tried to depict the bright and dark side of our relationship through the flute and violoncello, with the piano slowly bringing these parts together in a cohesive whole. Thus, the orchestration choices dictated form (somehow) as well!

Glad you liked the ending (I was sure you would), it is one of my favorite parts and very meaningful (and I couldn't just finish it with a happy-go-lucky ending)! It sounds great performed live...

The score is almost ready. I will post it tomorrow, most probably.

Hey, I realized that you review so much of my stuff, and I haven't reviewed any of yours... I'm listening to some of your music right now, and I think you're a pretty good composer . I like the sounds in this, they work well together and make a very emotional mood. I really like music like this, the melody is good and it works well with the harmony. Nice job, I'm a fan.

Hey Emmanouel!
Congratulations, I loved the emotional stuff involved here. I think there is no better present than a musical work. Once I wanted to present a friend's son that was going to born, but I'm very bad about deadlines.... though I made an electroacoustic music for my girlfriend, using her voice (she's a soprano, but I used the first telephonic message she let in my cell phone... romantic, isn't it?).

However, your piece seems well constructed, I think I have to listen to it more. I just didn't hear any clusters as you said.
As Nikolas commented, it can be easily felt a "love" ambience in the air.
I liked a lot the ending too. It suggests to me a second movement, kind of "atacca" for a more passionate face of love (this one in fact seems a passive love, even when you say it tries to depict the bright/dark sides of your relationship).
I also did feel the floyd-ish thing, the melancoly. Didn't you try to put justified in any harmonic context the "Us and them" chord? Hehe, I just love it...
Ok, I'll try to find some time to listen to all your music posted here.
Congrats again,

I enjoyed your piece.
I like the simple and clean approach to you took. However, on a personal note I would have liked just a tiny bit more melodic interaction or dialogue between the instruments. I think such a nice combination of timbres deserve a little bit of dialogue. It seems that the most individual interaction occured near the end of the piece.
I liked the "emotional surprises". I wasn't sold on the ending though. I think you have a nice piece and your message and the intent came through with ease.

Originally Posted by Songjun

Hey, I realized that you review so much of my stuff, and I haven't reviewed any of yours... I'm listening to some of your music right now, and I think you're a pretty good composer . I like the sounds in this, they work well together and make a very emotional mood. I really like music like this, the melody is good and it works well with the harmony. Nice job, I'm a fan.

Still haven't uploaded much yet (beware). I am very happy that the emotional mood got through to you, even through the digitized performance. Thanks for your kind words, friend!

Originally Posted by bryanholmes

Hey Emmanouel!
Congratulations, I loved the emotional stuff involved here. I think there is no better present than a musical work. Once I wanted to present a friend's son that was going to born, but I'm very bad about deadlines.... though I made an electroacoustic music for my girlfriend, using her voice (she's a soprano, but I used the first telephonic message she let in my cell phone... romantic, isn't it?).

However, your piece seems well constructed, I think I have to listen to it more. I just didn't hear any clusters as you said.
As Nikolas commented, it can be easily felt a "love" ambience in the air.
I liked a lot the ending too. It suggests to me a second movement, kind of "atacca" for a more passionate face of love (this one in fact seems a passive love, even when you say it tries to depict the bright/dark sides of your relationship).
I also did feel the floyd-ish thing, the melancoly. Didn't you try to put justified in any harmonic context the "Us and them" chord? Hehe, I just love it...
Ok, I'll try to find some time to listen to all your music posted here.
Congrats again,

I agree that there's no better present than music...that's the second time I undertake such a feat (the first was for a past girlfriend) and I find it very rewarding! Using the telephone message for writing music... that's romantic and passionate!

You couldn't hear the clusters? That's good, because I feel they stand out a lot in such a 'pretty' harmonic setting. I am very relieved they didn't stick out too much! I will post the score (it's ready but out of reach) these days so you can see them, they're 2 discreet piano chords, right before the violoncello singing the minor melody.

A second movement...now, that would be a great idea! Thanks! I haven't thought of developing a 'full' piano trio...however, there's no passion involved, so we'll have to expand on other manifestations of the feelings.

The Floydish thing...I am so glad it got through to you! And, yes, the harmony is full of references to Pink Floyd! 'Us and them', but also 'nobody home', 'final cut'...songs that base their true melancholy in the irony of major keys! There is another harmonic reference from (shoegazing) rock, to be found in Slowdive, but...that's another story!

Unfortunately I haven't posted much music yet.

Thank you for reviewing! Cheers!