Eroica

My friend Sean Sexton paints huge, courageous still lifes in a little outbuilding on his cattle ranch in Florida. When I visited him in the spring of 2000, he was at work on a major painting, entitled "A Millennial Self-Portrait." He said I should be doing something similar. He said, "We're coming into our 50's now — it's time to do the big stuff!" He inspired me to return to a piece I had begun 20 years earlier as a cello-piano sonata, honoring my father's courage as he battled cancer. Then, I had been too young to realize my hopes for that piece. But in the summer of 2000 I recomposed the work, adding a violin and new themes. The subject matter of this trio is the courage of those who are afraid, who almost lose their way, but persist despite their fears and finally prevail. Thus the title, "Eroica."

1. Sunny Days
   for violin,clarinet &piano;1994,rev.1996 [17:55 ]
   I.Moderato [4:52 ]
   II.Allegretto [5:12 ]
   III.Moderato [3:45 ]
   IV.Vivo [4:06 ]
2. Convivial Suite
   for violin and cello;1999 [12:51 ]
   I.Fugue [2:20 ]
   II.Waltz [2:44 ]
   III.Blues [1:16 ]
   IV.March [2:05 ]
   V.Adagio [1:34 ]
   VI.Finale [2:52 ]
3. Impressionist Suite #1
   for oboe,clarinet &bassoon;2000 [12:13 ]
   I.Monet:a seascape [2:01 ]
   II.Renoir:the play of colors [2:46 ]
   III.Manet:Spanish subjects [7:26 ]
4. Eroica
   Piano Trio #5;2000 [27:54 ]
   I.Allegro [12:27 ]
   II.Adagio [5:38 ]
   III.Presto [9:49 ]

   Total playing time [71:51 ]
   
   ©2001 Rick Sowash Publishing Co.