Presents
Alice Verne-Bredt
Phantasie Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano
Alice Verne-Bredt (1868-1958) was born in the English town of South Hampton to German parents, both musicians, who had emigrated from Bavaria. The family name was Wűrm but they Anglicized it to Verne. Alice studied violin with her mother, a concert violinist and piano with Marie Schumann, the daughter of Robert and Clara. Alice married William Bredt, a keen amateur musician and added his last name to hers. She lived most of her life in London and worked as a piano teacher as well as a composer.
She composed the Phantasie Trio in 1908 and entered it in the Cobbett Competition. The Cobbett Competitions where designed to encourage the younger generation of British composers to write chamber music. Its founder and benefactor was the chamber music aficionado William Wilson Cobbett. The rules of the competition provided an alternate format, the old English Fancy for Fantasia from the time of Purcell, to the traditional four movement work which had developed from Haydn onwards. There was to be only a single movement of around 15 minutes duration embracing a variety of moods, tone colors and tempi while at the same time retaining an inner unity. Therefore, Verne-Bredt, who wrote this work with the competition in mind wrote it, as the rules stipulated in one movement, but there are actually eight short,distinct sections or sub-movements within the one larger one: Moderato--Andante cantabile--Allegretto--Maestoso--Adagio doloroso--Andante cantabile--Allegretto--Maestoso. The trio features many contrasts, by turns dramatic, lyrical and playful. The trio bears the alternate title, Under the light, there is darkness. Verne-Bredt's trio was awarded one of the prizes for 1908.
This is a compelling, first rate work which would do well in the concert hall, where a shorter work is required, but will present no technical difficulties to amateurs. Long out of print, we are pleased to make it available once again.
Parts: $24.95
