Martin Bresnick

Three Stars

The enigmatic and symbolic title of the 9th piece in Bresnick's musical sequence, Opere della Musica Povera is again 'Schumannesque,' deriving from Schumann's example in Album for the Young. The symbolic title has been used by a number of composers to disguise a hidden program. Bresnick's brief clarinet trio is by turn reflective and mercurial, with a powerful climax that has the clarinet playing at the top of its register against a wild piano figuration. The piece concludes with a brief, dreamy coda. This short chamber work (8 minutes duration), contains a remarkable range of musical textures and will be a gratifying workout for the clarinetist, violist and pianist.