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- Augusta Read Thomas
...a circle around the sun... (2000)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
- vn, vc, pf
- 4 min
- 30th April 2025, DiMenna Center for Classical Music - Cary Hall, New York, NY, United States of America
Programme Note
Composer’s Note:
...a circle around the sun... for piano trio was commissioned by The Children's Memorial Foundation in honor of George D. Kennedy for the Amelia Piano Trio. The work was given a private performance at a party celebrating Mr. Kennedy in thanks for his generous contributions to and support of the Children's Hospital in Chicago.
My favorite moment in any piece of music is the moment of maximum risk and striving. Whether the venture is tiny or large, loud or soft, fragile or strong, passionate, erratic, ordinary or eccentric...! Maybe another way to say this is the moment of exquisite humanity and raw soul. All art that I cherish has an element of love and recklessness and desperation. I like music that is alive and jumps off the page and out of the instrument as if something big is at stake.
This work's title refers to Mr. Kennedy. He gives energy to children in need, like a circle around the sun, giving strength and warmth. The music starts with a G (G for George) when, slowly, orbits of sonorous and fragile notes unfold and spiral outward creating a gracious and vibrant resonance. After 60 seconds, the piece burst forth with a good deal of energy, like a sun-flare or like children scattering on a playground in all directions and later returns briefly to the opening materials on the pitch G.
Moon Jig for piano trio can be programmed with ...a circle around the sun... for piano trio. The two works can be played independently or in either order.
— Augusta Read Thomas
Sample Pages
...a circle around the sun... for piano trio was commissioned by The Children's Memorial Foundation in honor of George D. Kennedy for the Amelia Piano Trio. The work was given a private performance at a party celebrating Mr. Kennedy in thanks for his generous contributions to and support of the Children's Hospital in Chicago.
My favorite moment in any piece of music is the moment of maximum risk and striving. Whether the venture is tiny or large, loud or soft, fragile or strong, passionate, erratic, ordinary or eccentric...! Maybe another way to say this is the moment of exquisite humanity and raw soul. All art that I cherish has an element of love and recklessness and desperation. I like music that is alive and jumps off the page and out of the instrument as if something big is at stake.
This work's title refers to Mr. Kennedy. He gives energy to children in need, like a circle around the sun, giving strength and warmth. The music starts with a G (G for George) when, slowly, orbits of sonorous and fragile notes unfold and spiral outward creating a gracious and vibrant resonance. After 60 seconds, the piece burst forth with a good deal of energy, like a sun-flare or like children scattering on a playground in all directions and later returns briefly to the opening materials on the pitch G.
Moon Jig for piano trio can be programmed with ...a circle around the sun... for piano trio. The two works can be played independently or in either order.
— Augusta Read Thomas
Sample Pages
Scores
Reviews
“..in its amazingly compact five minutes, with its two connected movements, it manages a tight ternary structure proliferating from a repeated G. It gathers pace in a pointillistic and humorous manner with a sort of tense and brittle energy. Scored for piano trio it comes out as unique and dynamic.”
14th August 2014
Discography
Augusta Read Thomas: Chamber & Piano Works
- LabelNimbus
- Catalogue Number6261
- ConductorJack Delaney
- EnsembleSouthern Methodist University Wind Ensemble
- SoloistAmy Briggs, Janet Sung, Yuan-qing Yu, Robert Walters, Walden Chamber Players
- Released8th July 2014
Sun Threads
- Catalogue NumberARTCD19992007
- EnsembleWalden Chamber Players
More Info
- Orchestra of St. Luke’s Celebrates Matthew Aucoin and Augusta Read Thomas
- 27th November 2024
- Celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, Orchestra of St. Luke’s presents several performances in the innovative Visionary Sounds series at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music.