Berthold Goldschmidt (1903-1996) was a master of the chaconne – a form in which a theme or figure is repeated throughout, not necessarily in the bass (in which case it becomes a passacaglia – my theme is nearly always in the middle register). So this memorial tribute to him could not have taken any other form. It is appropriately slow and sombre – though the colours come more from the instruments used – alto flute and bass clarinet, viola and cello, and the piano mostly commenting in its lowest register – than from sadness, which would not be appropriate to a life so fulfilled.
In 1998 I recomposed this for a larger ensemble as a tribute to the Cellist Chris van Kampen – see Elegeia.
Categories: Chamber