<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338455</docID> <postdate>2025-02-17 12:10:53</postdate> <headline>Celebratory treat of folk influences in classical music</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-338449" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CSO-Chamber-group.-Photo-Martin-Ollman.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>CSO Chamber performers. Photo: Martin Ollman</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">Music / Folk Melodies, Canberra Symphony Orchestra Chamber Classics Series with Kirsten Williams (violin), Patrick Suthers (cello) and Edward Neeman (piano). At Albert Hall, February 16. Reviewed by <strong>SAM WILSON</strong>.</span></p> <p><strong>Three of the Canberra’s finest musicians delighted the audience with two contrasting works in a </strong><strong>celebration of folk music in the western classical music tradition</strong></p> <p>The trio opened with Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 39 in G major. Characteristic of the classical period, the complex piano part allowed Edward Neeman to shine, with Kirsten Williams reinforcing the piano melody on the violin for much of the piece and Patrick Suthers providing a harmonic base on the cello.</p> <p>The first movement was moderately paced and featured a simple variation structure, but Haydn’s characteristic sudden switches from major to minor and vice versa added interest.</p> <p>The second adagio movement, presents a calmer mood with phrased legato melodies in the piano, and in the middle section, the violin. This served as a calm moment of introspection and allowed Williams to fill Albert Hall with Haydn’s rich melodies.</p> <p>After this moment of introspection, the third and final movement launched into a dramatic folk dance.</p> <p>Marked Rondo all’Ongarese (meaning Rondo in a Gypsy style), the fast movement incorporates a number of traditional European folk tunes, including most notably the Hungarian recruiting dance, known as Verbunkos.</p> <p>This was traditionally used by the Hungarian army in an attempt to encourage young men to enlist. A common feature of this style is sudden changes in mood and tempo, which Haydn made liberal use of in this movement, leaving the audience not knowing what to expect.</p> <p>Suthers’ accomplished technique allowed the cello chord accompaniment to provide a rhythmic backing for Williams’ fast semiquaver runs, all carried out with precision and perfect balance.</p> <p>Next, the group introduced Dvořák’s Dumky for Piano Trio. A dumka is a Ukrainian folk tune, traditionally songs or laments of captive people.</p> <p>Adapted into a classical form by Slavic composers during the romantic period, these pieces feature dramatic contrast between brooding and even tragic moods and joyful and cheerful sections.</p> <p>The opening of the piece featured a dramatic cadenza-esque passage on the cello, allowing Suthers to unleash the full volume and expression of his instrument. This lamenting melody is echoed on the violin, before the trio launches suddenly into a bouncing and joyful tune. The trio’s synergy was on full display as the musicians needed to use nonverbal communication to seamlessly connect musical ideas of different dynamics, tempo, and mood.</p> <p>The second movement began with a slow and melancholic cello melody, highlighting the emotive and introspective aspects of folk music, as well as Dvořák’s motivic composition style.</p> <p>The third, fourth and fifth movements featured energetic dances with a strong rhythmic feel from fast chords and arpeggios in the cello and piano, displaying this trio’s virtuosity and detailed stylistic awareness.</p> <p>The sixth and final movement assumed a calmer mood, allowing the musicians and audience a breather from the intense dances. As the piece drew to a slow and quiet end, the trio abruptly launched into a fortissimo finale with incredibly fast runs in every instrument, leading to a bombastic final chord, earning enthusiastic and lasting applause from the audience.</p> <p>This Folk Melodies concert was an enjoyable celebration of folk influences in classical music from a very accomplished group of Canberra’s best instrumentalists. The two pieces, presented with thoughtfulness, expression and great technical skill, made this concert a real treat in the historic ambience of the Albert Hall.</p> </body>