There are several parallels to be found in the lives of the Southern French composer Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) and the Moravian-Bohemian composer Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959). Both needed the metropolis of Paris, that seething artistic melting pot after the First World War, in order to refine their originality; both were open to all kinds of musical styles, from South American folklore to North American jazz through to Bachian counterpoint; finally, both had to flee the Germans in France in 1940, heading for the USA - Milhaud on account of being a Jew, and Martinu as a patriotic Czech in exile. The two composers' complete works for string trio, contrasted here for the first time, uncover various similarities - even though each work bears the hallmarks of it's composer, and Martinu's trios were written in Paris, whilst Milhaud did not compose his until he had reached America. The works are characterised by a playful, spirited tone as well as the charm of Mediterranean and Czech folk tunes. But there is also what Milhaud termed, and valued, as "discipline" in chamber music: strict counterpoint and technical skill - utilised radically, without slipping into dry pedantry. These are four marvels of intimate music-making, assembled by the Jacques Thibaud Trio with their own artistic instinct and flair.

Tracklist:

String Trio, Op. 274: I. Vif
String Trio, Op. 274: II. Modéré
String Trio, Op. 274: III. Sérénade. Alerte
String Trio, Op. 274: IV. Canons. Lent Et Très Expressif
String Trio, Op. 274: V. Jeu Fugué. Vif
Sonatine À Trois, Op. 221b: I. Très Modéré
Sonatine À Trois, Op. 221b: II. Contrepoint. Lent
Sonatine À Trois, Op. 221b: III. Anime
String Trio No. 1, H 136: I. Allegro
String Trio No. 1, H 136: II. Andante
String Trio No. 1, H 136: III. Poco Allegro
String Trio No. 2, H 238: I. Allegro
String Trio No. 2, H 238: II. Poco Moderato - Vivo - Allegro Ma Non Troppo

UPC: 4022143977274
Label: Audite
Release Date: 8.4.17
Format: CD

Jacques Thibaud String Trio - Complete Works for String Trio (CD)