Presents
Sergei Yuferov
Piano Trio in c minor, Op.52
Sergei Yuferov (1865-1927 variously spelled Youferov, Youferoff etc. Some sources list his birth as 1856) was born in the Russian city of Odessa to a wealthy family possibly of noble rank. He studied composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Alexander Glazunov and piano with Nikolai Klenovsky, then subsequently in Moscow with Nikolai Hubert. He was active both as a composer, pianist and lawyer. He spent several years serving as music director in the Russian now Ukrainan city of Kherson, where he also held administrative positions. He is said to have worked on codifying Russian copyright law as it pertained to music. Peripatetic, he also lived at various times in Leipzig, Dresden as well as in Lausanne and Geneva.
His Piano Trio in c minor was published in 1913. The opening movement begins with a lengthy, ominous Moderato introduction which leads to a furious, stormy and powerful Allegro filled with memorable themes and excitement. The middle movement, Adagio, could not be more different than the preceding one--romantic, highly lyrical and calm, it sounds rather like a mid-19th century a salon piece of the sort Schumann might have written. The finale, Allegro, begins with an unusual, mysterious, spooky, syncopated rhythm that underpins the rest of thematic material, which while not sad has a downtrodden quality to it. One might image a march in retreat of a defeated army.
This is a highly original work, which sounds like little else. It is sure to make a strong impression upon audiences who are lucky enough to hear it in the concert hall. It can also be recommended to amateurs of a high technical standard.
Parts: $29.95
