Debussy, Couleur originale Trio Zerline

• Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918): Sonate No. 2 pour flûte, alto et harpe, L. 137:
• 1 Debussy: Sonate No. 2 pour flûte, alto et harpe, L. 137: I. Pastorale 07:02
• 2 Debussy: Sonate No. 2 pour flûte, alto et harpe, L. 137: II. Interlude 06:02
• 3 Debussy: Sonate No. 2 pour flûte, alto et harpe, L. 137: III. Final 04:43
• Arnold Bax (1883 - 1953): Elegiac Trio:
• 4 Bax: Elegiac Trio 09:07
• Théodore Dubois (1837 - 1924): Terzettino:
• 5 Dubois: Terzettino 05:30
• Leo Smit (1900 - 1943): Trio pour flûte, alto et harpe:
• 6 Smit: Trio pour flûte, alto et harpe 12:37
• Toru Takemitsu (1930 - 1996): And then I knew 'twas Wind:
• 7 Takemitsu: And then I knew 'twas Wind 13:14
• Total Runtime 58:15

Info for Debussy, Couleur originale

It is interesting to see how three instruments often considered as secondary instruments can come together to become a formidable ensemble. Up until this time, flute and harp chamber repertoire was still mainly played and promoted by its own instrumentalists. Apart from Reinecke, no composer who wasn’t themselves a virtuoso had dedicated a major concerto to these instruments. The viola had nevertheless managed to take advantage of its place within the string quartet with Mendelssohn, Berlioz, Schumann, Bruch and even Brahms dedicating a few of their most beautiful scores to the instrument. This precious legacy, however, is not simply a coming together of the flute, viola and harp but rather the manner in which Debussy used the combination; resolutely modern, his treatment of these three instruments is more about orchestration than a simple distribution of parts.

Founded in 2017, the Zerline Trio is comprised of flautist Alice Szymanski, violist Estelle Gourinchas and harpist Joanna Ohlmann. Having met at the Lyon Conservatoire for Music and Dance, from the very beginning of the trio’s formation these three musicians felt the need to play music of their time and encourage the creation of new pieces, while proudly promoting the uniqueness of the repertoire for flute, viola and harp.

Trio Zerline

Trio Zerline
Reunited as a trio since 2017, Alice Szymanski, Estelle Gourinchas and Joanna Ohlmann are driven by the common desire to share with the public the existing or future repertoire for this atypical group, whose existence was made official in 1916 by Claude Debussy with the creation of his famous Sonata for flute, viola and harp. A gentle and melancholic conversation, the work astonishes with its tawny colours and oriental curves. This emblematic piece of the repertoire is still a source of inspiration for many composers who wish to expand the repertoire for this instrumental group. The three musicians therefore set out to meet various contemporary composers who have written for their group, such as Martín Matalon and Alain Louvier. They are enriched by their experience as creators while benefiting from the wise advice of Fabrice Pierre, Sylvain Blassel and Sergio Menozzi. The Trio Zerline is defined by the desire of its performers to promote contemporary creation, while placing it alongside older works in the repertoire. It thus offers varied and captivating concert programmes, including original and transcribed pieces, in trio, duo or solo.

Booklet for Debussy, Couleur originale