Moon Jig (2005)
For violin, cello and piano
Premiered by The Lincoln Trio, Chicago, IL, 5 May 2005
Duration: 5 minutes
Program Note by the Composer
A Jig (or Gigue) has traditionally been a lively dance with leaping movements, comprised of two sections each repeated.
Moon Jig is a kind of cross between Jazz (Monk, Coltrain, Tatum, Miles, etc.) with Bartok, Brahms, and Stravinsky. The piano part starts with (and returns four times with) a low register jig, which is an earthy rather asymmetrical, punchy, rhythmic, walking-bass. The second section (which is also repeated 4 times) is always led by the strings who play long animated and expressive lines.
The work alternates 5 times total between these two sections: PIANO/TUTTI/PIANO/TUTTI/PIANO/TUTTI, etc. and yet as the repetitions proceed, the two musics eventually blend together. One straightforward example is that the string pizzicatos blend into the low register piano rhythms. This multifaceted merging process results in one long sweep of music rushing to the end in the highest registers of the trio, as if the Moon Jig leaped and reached skyward and its filaments become nimble and luminous like star glow.
World premiere was presented by The Lincoln Trio on May 5, 2005 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.
Moon Jig for piano trio can be programmed with ...a circle around the sun... for piano trio. The two works can be played independently or in either order.
Augusta Read Thomas
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