Triple Concertos

[John Hudock]

I've been listening to Casella for the past couple of days and while listening to his delightful triple concerto for piano trio and orchestra, which was inspired by Beethoven's great triple concerto, I tried to think of what other post-baroque composers have composed a triple concerto. Ellen Taafe Zwilich has an exciting concerto for piano trio and orchestra and Tippet has a triple concerto for string trio & orch and then I drew a blank. Are there any others (specifcally for piano trio & orch, although I'd be interested in any others for string trio & orch as well)?

[eschiss1]

The first that comes to my mind, though not called a concerto, is Benjamin Frankel's Serenata Concertante (op.37, piano trio and orchestra, from 1960?). Emanuel Moor seems to have written one for piano trio and orchestra also... ah. By Martinu, one for piano trio and strings (H231, 1933).) Rontgen contributed one too, for string trio and strings in Bflat, in 1922 .
Skrowaczewski I see wrote one for violin, clarinet, piano and orchestra. (David Amram has a piece called "Triple Concerto" for three quintets and orchestra but I'm not quite sure ... hrm!) There are some other modern examples unsurprisingly (Donald Martino, others...)

Eric (yes, making copious use of Wikipedia and search engine, to little result...)

[violinconcerto]

If you like I could list here some hundred or so triple concertos. For piano trio and orchestra or a lot of other more weird combinations (for example Ernst Krenek's Concertino for violin, flute, harpsichord and string orchestra from 1924). Or you check my website.

Best,
Tobias

[John Hudock]

By Martinu, one for piano trio and strings (H231, 1933).

Fascinating. I thought I had recordings of all Martinu's concertos. The only recording I could find is a long out of print Thorofon from the 80s. Is anyone aware of a contemporary recording. Its surprising that it wasn't included on the Leichner/Czech PO set of the complete piano ctos.

Oops, I take it back, it is on the Leichner set. The Concertino for Piano Trio & Orch, I didn't see it at first because I had it filed with the piano concertos. I'll have to give it a re-listen. Actually on re-checking, the Leichner set Concertino is H232, there is also apparently a full Concerto H232 which is the one Eric referenced, which does seem to be the one on Thorofon. So back to the question of contemporary recordings. Any?

I have a recording of the Frankel as well. Something else to put in the queue.

If you like I could list here some hundred or so triple concertos. For piano trio and orchestra or a lot of other more weird combinations (for example Ernst Krenek's Concertino for violin, flute, harpsichord and string orchestra from 1924). Or you check my website.

Thanks Tobias, I can just check your website for those. I was trying to limit to just piano trio (piano,violin,cello) & orch and looking for any that folks might actually have some experience of and could perhaps recommend.

Some more research on my part has revealed that there is also a poem for piano trio & orch by Fikret Amirov who has had some discussion on the forum. Also a serenade for piano trio & strings by Lera Auerbach who has written some beautiful chamber music for violin & piano. There are also full concertos for piano trio & orch by Alun Hoddinott and, it seems popular with Italians because there are works by Ghedini, Malpiero, Ferrero. I only have a slight familiarity with Malpiero and Ghedini and don't know Ferrero at all. Henk Badings also has a concertino.

[eschiss1]

Re the Martinu: there's a Capriccio recording conducted by James Conlon, from 2005. The Trio Wanderer are the soloists. See http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=C71053. It has both concertinos H231 and H232, the rhapsody-concerto for viola, and the Memorial to Lidice.

[John Hudock]

Re the Martinu: there's a Capriccio recording conducted by James Conlon, from 2005. The Trio Wanderer are the soloists. See http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=C71053. It has both concertinos H231 and H232, the rhapsody-concerto for viola, and the Memorial to Lidice.

Thanks Eric. I'll order a copy.

[edurban]

The interesting American composer Charles Jerome Hopkins (1836-1898) wrote a triple concerto for vn, vc, and pf with orchestra.  It was not published, perhaps not performed.  NYPL Lincoln Center has a photocopy of the ms. which I seem to remember is at Harvard University.  The concerto began as a pf trio (if mem. serves...)

Hopkins was a tough nut.  Though the son of the Episcopal Bishop of Vermont, he was no man of peace.  Wikipedia has a thorough and entertaining biographical sketch:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Jerome_Hopkins

David

[eschiss1]

There is also (expectably) an incomplete, improvable list at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_concertos_for_violin,_cello,_and_piano

Eric

[giles.enders]

Khristoskov 1917- wrote a concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra.  Bibik 1960-  , Hatrik 1941- , Frid 1904-, Heiden 1910-, Brouwer 1939-, Constaninescu 1909- all wrote concertos for the same three solo instruments.

[jimmosk]

Let me recommend a wild one: Ricardo Llorca's  Concierto Italiano for Guitar, Piccolo, Harpsichord, and Strings. It's based on three castrati arias by Handel. Sometimes, especially in the slow movement, you almost believe you're listening to Handel. But at other times there's all manner of distraction and distortion going on, shifting the pitches into dissonance, suddenly altering tempi, or giving each soloist their own key.

I'm also fond of Ghedini's Martinuesque Concerto dell'Albatro for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra

//

-J

--
Jim Moskowitz
The Unknown Composers Page:  http://kith.org/jimmosk/TOC.html

[eschiss1]

Khristoskov 1917- wrote a concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra.  Bibik 1960-  , Hatrik 1941- , Frid 1904-, Heiden 1910-, Brouwer 1939-, Constaninescu 1909- all wrote concertos for the same three solo instruments.

To fill this out a little if I may: Petar Khristoskov (or Hristoskov, or Christoskov, born in Sofia);  Geza Frid (Hungarian, 1904-1989 - there's also a Russian Grigory Frid, but born 1915; both have had works recorded); poss. Valentin Bibik (born 1940, died 2003)- are you sure about the 1960?; Juraj Hatrik (b 1941, Okrucany, Slovakia); Bernhard Heiden (emigre to America, 1910-2000 - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Heiden ; b. Frankfurt am Main, d. Bloomington Indiana); Leo Brouwer (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Brouwer - born Havana); Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Constantinescu, Romanian. Brief article in English; article on Romanian site is more extensive.)