Presents
Manuel Ponce
Petite Suite dans le Style Ancien
For Violin, Viola & Cello
Manuel Ponce (1882-148) was born in the Mexican town of Fresnillo. From his early youth, he was considered a musical prodigy both on the piano and as a composer. After studying at the National Conservatory in Mexico City, he traveled to Italy where he studied with Giovanni Martini at the Bologna Conservatory and then in Berlin at the Stern Conservatory with Martin Kraus. Afterwards, he concentrated on composing and teaching at the National Conservatory. The bulk of his compositions were for voice, piano and guitar. However, he did not ignore chamber music, which includes a string quartet, a piano trio and two other works for string trio along with some instrumental sonatas.
The Petite Suite dans le Style Ancien (Little Suite in the Ancient Style) is in four short movements and dates from 1933. Ponce was very much attracted to and fascinated by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and by ancient style, he meant the Baroque era. Each of the four movements bear a title which one could easily have found in a suite by Bach It is perhaps what Ponce thought Bach might have composed had he been alive in the 20th century. The first movement is titled Prelude. It is bright, full of energy and perhaps a little nervous. The second movement, Canon, is in fact canonical. Each of the themess is introduced canonic fashion. The thematic material is a mix of modern and baroque. Next comes an Air. It is slow and more lyrical than the preceding two movements and has a gentle mood. The finale is marked Fughetta on a theme by J.S. Bach. Not surprisingly, it begins in fugal fashion. The main theme in the beginning is certainly baroque-sounding and while has it modern tinges, it does not wander far from the Baroque.
This is a fine work for string trio which is sure to please audiences. It is also managable by amateurs and is a welcome addition to the string trio repertoire.
Parts: $17.95
