TRIO No. 2 “This Mirror Has Three Faces”

For violin, violoncello and piano

Piano Trio

No. 2 · This Mirror Has Three Faces

A five-part piano trio structured as a triptych, with exterior panels, interior panels and a central movement.

Year 2011
Duration 23′
Scoring Violin
Cello · Piano
Publisher Boosey & Hawkes
/ Sikorski
Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski Purchase Score Abbreviations PDF

Commission

Co-commissioned by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music and the Weiss/Kaplan/Newman Piano Trio.

Premiere

9 March 2012. Tucson, Leo Rich Theatre · Martin Beaver, violin; Clive Greensmith, violoncello; Lera Auerbach, piano.

Movements

  • 1. Prelude

    Left Exterior Panel · Moderato libero

  • 2. First Unfolding

    Left Interior Panel · Allegro appassionato

  • 3. Second Unfolding

    Right Interior Panel · Tempo di valse

  • 4. Tell’em What You See

    Center Panel · Allegro assai

  • 5. Folding · Postlude

    Right Exterior Panel · Adagio nostalgico

Work Information

Full Title
Piano Trio No. 2 “This Mirror Has Three Faces”
Scoring
For violin, violoncello and piano.
Year
2011
Duration
23′
Movements
1. Prelude (Left Exterior Panel) · Moderato libero
2. First Unfolding (Left Interior Panel) · Allegro appassionato
3. Second Unfolding (Right Interior Panel) · Tempo di valse
4. Tell’em What You See (Center Panel) · Allegro assai
5. Folding · Postlude (Right Exterior Panel) · Adagio nostalgico
Instrumentation
Vl, Vc, Klav.
Abbreviations PDF
Commission
Co-commissioned by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music and the Weiss/Kaplan/Newman Piano Trio.
Premiere
9 March 2012 · Tucson, Leo Rich Theatre; Martin Beaver, violin; Clive Greensmith, violoncello; Lera Auerbach, piano.
Publisher
Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski .
Availability
Score available for purchase through Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski.

The Work

Piano Trio No. 2 “This Mirror Has Three Faces” is a chamber work for violin, violoncello and piano. Written in 2011, it is structured in five movements corresponding to the panels of a triptych: left exterior, left interior, right interior, center and right exterior.

The work was co-commissioned by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music and the Weiss/Kaplan/Newman Piano Trio. It was premiered on 9 March 2012 at the Leo Rich Theatre in Tucson by Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith and Lera Auerbach.

“I like the idea of exploring the dramatic, ritualistic side of music. In The Mirror With Three Faces, one can look at three different faces or roles of the same person or at three distinct personalities – each with its own face. Each character (i.e. instrument) may be isolated, in conflict, or in harmony with others and itself. This trio explores individuality and ensemble, harmony and conflict, one in three or three in one – that is the ambiguous nature of this work, structured in the form of a triptych.” Lera Auerbach
  • Form Triptych in five movements.
  • Duration Approximately 23 minutes.
  • Forces Violin, violoncello and piano.

Context

The subtitle This Mirror Has Three Faces frames the trio as both chamber music and visual structure. The five movements are named as panels, placing the listener before a work that opens, unfolds, centers and folds back into itself.

The traditional piano-trio formation becomes the vehicle for the work’s central ambiguity: three independent voices, three reflected identities, or one image divided into three faces.

Online Materials

Public links related to Piano Trio No. 2 “This Mirror Has Three Faces”. Use the filters to view videos, streaming audio, recording pages and reference listings.

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Publisher and Materials

Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. The score is available through the official Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski purchase page. Zinfonia rental material has been intentionally omitted because this is a chamber work available for purchase.