TSG Automation

Paul Archibald, Helen Reid,
John Kenny, with Juraj Filas

Trio d’Art gave the world premier of Panta Rei by Juraj Filas on August 12th in Dartington Great Hall, in a program which also included my own solo trombone music theatre extravaganza La Belle et la Bêtte, the ravishing Legend for trumpet & piano by Georges Enesco, Debussy’s piano preludes Minstrels and The Sunken Cathedral, and the Grand Trio by Jan Koetsier.

When the term “piano trio” is mentioned, most people immediately think of the classic violin, piano and ‘cello trio – but there is an extremely distinguished repertoire for trumpet, piano and trombone, which Trio d’Art has set out not only to explore but to expand.
Paul, Helen & I are all professors at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and regular faculty members at the Dartington International Summer School. Juraj Filas’s new piece took the Dartington audience by storm – neo Romantic in style, passionate, superbly written technically, demanding virtuoso expression and stamina from all three players, this at 25 minute two movement work will undoubtedly become a classic of the medium. The title is derived from the writings of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: roughly translated panta rei means that the universe is continually in a state of flux, forever changing. Filas’s musical response is to create a musical fluxus of continually developing and shifting themes and harmonies, related but continually morphing.

Trio d’Art is hoping to collaborate over the next few years with composers of widely varied styles: David Robertson (USA); Sally Beamish (Scotland); John Purser (Scotland); Claudio Ambrosini (Italy); Etienne Rolin (France); Stephen Montague (UK/USA).