Ernest Bloch - 3 Nocturnes for Piano Trio B.56

"The Three Nocturnes for piano trio were written in 1924 just before Bloch moved to San Francisco. With no particular programmatic significance, they are mesmerizing character pieces by turns haunting, lyrical and restless. The first highlights Bloch's impressionistic tendencies with exotic scales and ethereal sonorities. The second is a gorgeous lullaby with a bit of canonic writing and the flavor of folksong. The third offers just a tiny glimpse into Bloch's characteristic flair for motoric rhythms with a muscular verve that can be found in his early chamber music. There is a bit of urban energy with a tinge of Jazz that is a signature of the era in many modernist composers. Here also is Bloch's use of cyclic form acquired no doubt from one of his teachers who was a student of Franck: the middle of the third nocturne recalls the beautiful melody of the second with possible allusions to the first binding all three nocturnes into a triptych of thoughtful artistic unity" - Kai Christiansen I Andante 00:00 - 02:37 II Andante quieto 02:44 - 05:20 III Tempestoso 05:30 - 08:05 Alegria Ensemble Lefrak Hall at Aaron Copland School of Music