Darling Downs Trio
The Darling Downs Trio holds a special place in the history of USQ.
Original Liner Notes: Darling Downs Trio
(Note: Two of the following recordings were taken from the original ‘Ampex Grand Master’ tapes from Grevillea Recording Studios in Brisbane, dated 22nd September 1989. Due to severe degradation of the tapes, we’ve restored the third recording from the vinyl pressing of the recording).
Side one
Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49
Molto allegro ed agitato 9.25
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Andante con moto tranquillo 6.48
Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace 3.37
Finale: Allegro assai appassionato 8.35
Side two
Eugene Goossens
Five Impressions of a Holiday, Op. 7
In the Hills 2.25
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By the Rivers 2.32
The Little Water Wheel 2.38
The Village Church 4.50
At the Fair 2.01
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Trio Movement in B flat major, Op. Posth.
Allegretto 5.07
Peter Rorke
Rumba for Piano Trio 2.23
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The Darling Downs Trio, comprising Andrew Lorenz (violin), Gary Williams (cello) and Wendy Lorenz (piano), was formed in 1987 and is currently the Trio-in-Residence at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, Toowoomba, Queensland.
The Trio brings together the collective talents of nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians experienced in the various fields of solo, ensemble and orchestral music, regularly performing throughout Australia in concert tours, national broadcasts and at special presentation performances. In late 1988, at the invitation of the People’s Republic of China, the group spent several weeks teaching, performing and broadcasting in China. The Trio has received similar invitations to perform in North America and Europe.
While teaching in the Music Programme at the Darling Downs Institute continues as their main focus, the Trio also conducts a campus chamber music school for strings and piano during the Winter vacation. The McGregor Chamber Music School attracts many string and piano enthusiasts from all parts of Australia.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 49
Molto allegro ed agitato/Andante con moto tranquillo/Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace/Finale: Allegro assai appassionato
Robert Schumann greeted Mendelssohn’s D minor Trio with great enthusiasm: “This is the master trio of today, ...a lovely composition which, years hence, will still delight our grandchildren and great-grandchilden.” How true those words have proved to be, as even in its sesqui-centenary year of 1989, the work remains universally popular with audiences. Schumann went on to say of Mendelssohn: “he is the Mozart of the nineteenth century; the most brilliant among musicians...” Although created along Classical lines, rich and beautiful melodies sweep through the work. The first movement opens with a rhapsodic theme presented by the cello, soon joined by the violin, whilst the piano provides a throbbing chordal accompaniment. The movement derives great effect from its contrasting elements, alternating extreme lyricism with brilliant virtuosity.
The slow movement is reminiscent of Mendelssohn’s many Songs Without Words, a form in which he excelled. Another favoured form was the scherzo, a fine example of which serves as the third movement. The Finale immediately introduces a dance-like melody which becomes the recurring theme of the ensuing Rondo. This anticipates the gypsy melodies Brahms was to favour later in the nineteenth century. Again, Mendelssohn achieves an ideal blend of lyricism and bravura, the latter being given the final say in a triumphant coda.
Eugene Goossens (1893-1962) Five Impressions of a Holiday, Op. 7
In the Hills/By the Rivers/The Little Water Wheel/The Village Church/At the Fair.
Sir Eugene Goossens was a prominent British conductor and composer of the first half of this century. Amongst many major appointments he was director of the New South Wales Conservatorium and resident conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which, under his leadership, was considered one of the finest orchestras in the world.
He composed the “Five Impressions of a Holiday” in 1914. Colles states in the Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians that: “As a composer Goossens first became prominent in the early days of the First World War, when his two Trios, Opp. 6 and 7, were performed at the War Emergency Concerts and attracted attention by the novelty of their idiom.” The pieces are quite programmatic and fuse Romantic and Impressionistic styles.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Trio Movement in B flat major, Op posth.
Allegretto
This charming single movement was composed around the same time as the masterly “Archduke Trio”, also in the key of B flat major. There has been some speculation as to whether this movement may have originally been intended to form part of the larger work. In the event, it has survived as an added bonus for the literature, and was eventually published posthumously in 1830.
Peter Rorke (1928- ), Rumba for Piano Trio, 1987
South African born Peter Rorke is currently Head of Music Programme at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education. He has enjoyed a distinguished and multi-faceted musical career, in the diverse roles of composer, conductor, pianist, music educator and music administrator. This Rumba was written for the Darling Downs Trio in 1987 as the first of a suite of short trio movements.
Recording: Grevillea Studios, Brisbane. Sound Engineer: Rodney Jacobson.
Graphic Artist: Anne-Louise James
Photographs: Trevor J. Wilkins, Media Services Unit, Darling Downs Institute.
The Darling Downs Trio records by courtesy of the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education and the Darling Downs Institute Press, Toowoomba. This recording was produced with their assistance.
Cover photographs: Darling Downs Trio and Table Top, Toowoomba.