Swan Hennessy (1866-1929)

Nationality: American | Irish

Born: November 24, 1866, Rockford, IL Died: October 26, 1929, Paris (age 62)

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Petit trio celtique for String Trio, Op. 52

(for violin, viola and cello)

4:16	I.	Allegro (dans le style irlandais)
0:59	II.	Moderato (dans le style breton)
1:28	III.	Andante (dans le style irlandais)
2:13	IV.	Allegro (dans le style breton)

Duration: 9 minutes (approximately)

Published: 1921 (age 54-55)

Dedication: à mon ami Paul Le Flem

1 recording, 4 videos

autoopen autoplay

4:18

RTÉ ConTempo Quartet

I. Allegro (dans le style irlandais)

0:59

RTÉ ConTempo Quartet

II. Moderato (dans le style breton)

1:27

RTÉ ConTempo Quartet

III. Andante (dans le style irlandais)

2:11

RTÉ ConTempo Quartet

IV. Allegro (dans le style breton)

From Edition Silvertrust

Edward Swan Hennessy (1866-1929) was born in Rockford, Illinois and grew up in Chicago. It is not known where his early music education took place, though presumably it was in Chicago. Some sources suggest he studied at Oxford before attending the Stuttgart Conservatory. He lived in London for several years and finally settled in Paris in 1903. While his earlier works were firmly in the Romantic style a la Schumann, his later works were all influenced by the French Impressionists.

The Petit Trio Celtique dates from 1921. As the title suggests, the work is relatively short, consisting of four movements. The first, Allegro, bears the subtitle in Irish style and indeed sounds like an Irish dance. The second movement, Moderato, is subtitled in the style of Brittany while the last two movements, Andante and Allegro are in Irish style. The trio presents no technical difficulties and can be programmed for concert.

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
moderato [I], moderamente, modéré [F], modérément [F]—moderately, at a moderate tempo, applying a touch of restraint to its related word(s), e.g. allegro moderato
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
stile antico [I], Alt-Stil [G], style ancien [F]—ancient style, old style, typically referring to the Renaissance
string trio, Streichtrio [G], Trio d'archi [I], Trio à cordes [F], Trío de cuerdas [S] —a work for three stringed instruments, most commonly violin, viola and cello. A more rarefied form than the string quartet perhaps because the texture is sparse (each instrument highly exposed) and the means more difficult for natural harmonic richness. But these become challenges and assets in the great trios. Trios almost always emphasize countrapuntal writing with each of the three players in strong relief.
trio (1)—an ensemble or work for 3 players