CHACONNE, FOR STRING TRIO

‘When I first encountered Theo Verbey’s Chaconne for violin, viola, and cello, the first thing I did was search for a recording. I wanted to hear how all those layers of rhythm and musical ideas fit together. There wasn’t one.

As we began studying the piece, I quickly understood why. On the page, the music is incredibly complex. Rhythms overlap, motives move from one instrument to another, and many of the most important musical ideas only emerge when all three parts come together. It demands a great deal of imagination before the sound can truly be heard.

What fascinated me most was discovering that beneath its rhythmic intensity lies a deeply melodic piece. As we worked through each variation, we gradually realised how cleverly Verbey shares the musical material among the violin, viola, and cello, creating a constant dialogue between the three voices.

Our first performance in September felt like the beginning of a journey rather than its destination. The opportunity to return to the piece later for this recording allowed us to see it with new eyes and much greater understanding. Working with Everett Porter was an important part of that process; his observations often revealed musical connections that had escaped us and helped us bring greater clarity to the work.

I am very happy that this recording now exists. It captures not only a remarkable composition, but also the process of discovery that came with learning it. I hope it will help future musicians approaching the piece for the first time and encourage more people to explore this extraordinary work.’