Juilliard cento sonnet

For Soprano, Violin, Violoncello and Piano

Duration: [3’30'“]

Awarded Best Artsong, Berklee Words and Music Festival, 2015.

Programme Note

Juilliard Cento Sonnet is an artsong, setting of the musical poem by the same name by New York poet Philip Dacey, whom the composer had the good fortune to discover and collaborate with. The work includes three musical quotes, which have been included to mirror the literary composition, which is in ‘cento’ form, whereby the text is derived from selections from various authors. The quotes include the first measures of each of the Ives Piano Trio, the Ravel Piano Trio, and Elliot Carter’s Epigrams.

Juilliard Cento Sonnet - Philip Dacey

At a Chamber Music Master Class

Use every centimeter of the hair.
That phrase needs elasticity, breathing room. We need to hear the decoration more.
Her part has so many notes, it’s almost a crime.

Tread lightly here – he’s on his weakest string.
You can be perkier in the lower half of the bow. Don’t be so punctual; you’re right but you’re wrong. Trios are three soloists. Soft doesn’t mean slow.

Adjust your arm instead of the violin.
Attack, back off, and then attack again.
Let the sound of the chord decay before you go on. When you have a rest, take it. You want your touch to make the piano say, “Ah,” not “Ouch.”
Keep your hand rounded, as if it held a peach.

Philip Dacey has granted his copyright owners permission for this work to be recorded and performed.

Media