Written for the Gena Raps Piano Chamber Music Prize in 2026.
Performed by Maude Cloutier, violin; Ari Peraza-Webb, cello; and Baron Fenwick, piano.
Performed at the Wednesdays at One Chamber Music Concert on March 25th at Alice Tully Hall.
Program Note:
“Why do you have such an elaborate plan?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s just very…conceptual? Why don’t you try just going with the flow, seeing where it takes you?”
“That just feels…like I’d always choose wrong”
Step one: we set the stage. Our characters are not so much part of the sound (themes, melodies) but act upon the sound – they are simply (played by?) the people you see in front of you. Three symmetrical [people] ({major} thirds).
Second, we get our characters to talk to one another. Maybe one interrupts the other. (Oh great, socialization.) Well clearly, we’re at an impasse. Everyone has their own idea of what kind of music they should be playing. And they just keep interrupting each other! And now playing on top of each other all at once! Is this what they call “chamber music”? It’s all falling apart.
Step…three? We stop, take some deep breaths. Take stock of our (symmetrical) situation. Why can’t we get along? What are we missing? Why is one of us just…stuck in place?
Oh right! Teamwork! That was the answer all along. We’ve got to join in with them! Now that our friends have learned to work together, we proceed to the last step: happily ever after. Nothing could possibly go wrong as we approach the end of the piece. Let’s celebrate by giving each of them a solo!
“What are you afraid of?”
“…that everyone else already knows who they are.”
For additional information, questions, or parts requests, contact Aidan.