Yearning (piano trio): need some advice!

Hi all.

I've just written this trio in literally a few hours, after being asked to produce a piece for a concert.

Had to step in at very short notice, after another composer pulled out.

Still have a few days to make revisions before the scores go out to the musicians, and I just wanted to ask whether my double-stops are playable?

Also the top notes in my violin part may not be practical? They're too high to play as regular notes on the E-string, and I'm not sure those particular notes/combinations are achievable as natural or artificial harmonics? Especially the F6 in Bar 18, and Bars 44-45. (I've just notated them at sounding pitch for the moment.)

Any help gratefully received!

(Revised versions will be posted lower down the thread.)

Edited July 3, 20232 yr by Alex Weidmann

Hey Alex,

I was yawning all the time these few days so did not review this yearning piece haha!

I love how contemplative this piece is. All those added notes and non-functional harmony is great for the effect.

On 7/1/2023 at 8:39 AM, Alex Weidmann said:

and I just wanted to ask whether my double-stops are playable?

I think they are playable since the widest interval is only a sixth, but I don't play violin myself.

On 7/1/2023 at 8:39 AM, Alex Weidmann said:

Especially the F6 in Bar 18, and Bars 44-45. (I've just notated them at sounding pitch for the moment.)

For me the F6 is absolutely playable with normal blowing, as I remember Beethoven uses C#7 in his op.131 finale. 

I think you can give cello more melodic significance since it's the most contemplative instrument of the three. Thanks for sharing!

Henry

Thanks for your kind words Henry.

Because I was rushing, I made quite few mistakes in the harmony (e.g. Bar 6 piano left hand had a clashing note).

Have corrected these now, and attached the latest score below.

Still making more refinements.
The counterpoint in the piano part is quite weak, with lots of octave doubling.

Apparently the last two double-stops in the violin part are very difficult to play; though not impossible.

If the violinist complains, I could always provide an alternate version later.

Here's the finished version.

Made quite a few changes, and I hope the counterpoint is better!