piano trio

2014

Duration 5’

Instrumentation violin, cello, piano

First Performance 20 October 2015, Landshut, Rathausprunksaal, Germany; The Oberon Trio: Henja Semmler (violin), Antoaneta Emanuilova (cello), and Jonathan Aner  (piano)

Commissioned by the Oberon Piano Trio

Recording Oberon Trio – Oberon Celebrates Shakespeare here

Further Performances

11.11.15  Raanana, Israel, The Oberon Piano Trio

12.11.15  YMCA Jerusalem, Israel, The Oberon Piano Trio

26.11.15 Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin, Germany The Oberon Piano Trio

27.11.15  The University of Manchester, UK, Vaganza Ensemble

14.08.16 BBC Proms Extra, The Albany Piano Trio

11.03.16  Bamberg, Konzert- und Kongresshalle – Joseph-Keilberth-Saal, Germany, The Oberon Piano Trio

21.09.16 Philharmonie Kiew, Ukraine, The Oberon Piano Trio

23.09.16 Opernhaus Charkiw, Ukraine, The Oberon Piano Trio

25.09.16 Philharmonie Sapo, Ukraine, The Oberon Piano Trio

27.09.16 Philharmonie Dnipro, Ukraine, The Oberon Piano Trio

13.10.16 Gießen, Konzertsaal im Rathaus, Germany, The Oberon Piano Trio

21.10.16 Stratford Upon Avon Music Festival, The Contemporary Consort

17.11.16 Borstel, Herrenhaus Borstel, Germany, The Oberon Piano Trio

4.12.16 Aberystwyth, U.K., The Del Mar Piano Trio

http://composersedition.com/charlotte-bray-that-crazed-smile

Commissioned by the Oberon Trio, That Crazed Smile is inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The work is a Fantasy piece set within a dream-like world. Interestingly, in the play the fairies are a reality however, in contrast to Romeo and Juliet, for example, where it is believed (particularly by Mercutio) that fairies visit people’s dreams.

Set at night under the light of the moon, the piece moves through a dreamy section before reaching the gripping spellbound part of the piece, where it is as if the fairies are deviously casting spells onto the lovers in their dreams. Tightly controlled, the music continuously varies small motifs and melodies, spinning around on itself. The foolishness and self delusion of the lovers can be felt.

This work forms part of an ongoing cycle of Shakespeare-inspired works that the composer is writing for piano trio. The first piece composed, entitled Those Secret Eyes, is loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The plays chosen to inspire the works link by theme: dream verses reality, and night and day- problems arise in the day and are relieved at night through dream. The pieces may be performed as a set or individually.