The New World Trio performs Daron’s Piano Trio No. 3: Wayfaring Stranger on a marvelous program that begins with Beethoven and ends with Ravel. Here are the notes:

“These works have all established their authors as masters of composition. Beethoven’s Trio op.1 #3, was both dynamic and controversial. In this piece, he makes it clear that he is progressing to a new way of composing, and his confident exhilaration is unmistakable. Written in memory of his brother, Daron Hagen’s adaptation of “Wayfaring Stranger” is in the grand tradition of the folk-to-classical genre. This piece brilliantly combines the themes of redemption and deliverance contained in this traditional spiritual, along with classical development and depth, to form a richly haunting and affecting work. In composing his sole piano trio, Maurice Ravel adopted an orchestral approach to create a large, powerful work that stands at the apex of the piano-trio repertoire. Making extensive use of the extreme ranges of each instrument, he developed an unusually rich texture of sound for a chamber work, one which demands a high level of technical proficiency from all three musicians. Part of the work’s brilliance lies in its organization: for all its innovations and multiple sources, this extraordinary piece resides within a conventional classical framework.”

Trio op. 1, No. 3 in C minor
Ludwig van Beethoven

Piano Trio #3, "Wayfaring Stranger"
Daron Hagen

Trio pour violon, violoncelle, et piano
Maurice Ravel

Anhared Stowe, violin
Peter Zay, cello
David Ballena, piano