Hailed as "the liveliest live music in town" and named Musiciansof the Year by the Boston Globe, the Boston-based Triple Helixpiano trio will soon bring their nationally renowned fusion ofpiano, cello, and violin to Tufts.
Violinist Bayla Keyes, pianist Lois Shapiro, and cellist RhondaRider make up the chamber triumvirate that has been charmingaudiences since 1995. Triple Helix's short-term residency beginswith a lively Saturday evening performance before culminating in anopen student workshop on Monday.
"Right now, Triple Helix is the most exciting group playingconcerts in the piano trio medium that I know of," music professorJohn McDonald said.
The members of Triple Helix are currently artists-in-residenceat Wellesley College. Associate Professor Janet Schmalfeldt of theDepartment of Music explained that Triple Helix performs chambermusic of many varieties, ranging from classical tocontemporary.
"The Triple Helix has been hailed as one of the finest, mostdynamic piano trios in the Boston area and far beyond," Schmalfeldtsaid.
The trio's first Tufts performance on Saturday night "willcelebrate the diversity of American music, from the early twentiethcentury (Charles Ives) to the most recent," Schmalfeldt explained.Each performed piece will explore the balance between traditionalcustoms and new values that all new immigrants to America mustface.
The repertoire for the evening will cover a broad variety ofmusic. Pianist and Triple Helix member Lois Shapiro describes theextreme range of the trio's selection of pieces.
"From Bright Sheng -- who transforms our Western instrumentsinto exotic folk instruments of his native land, speaking in thephrase forms of Chinese music -- to Paul Schoenfield -- whodistills a subtle taste of Klezmer within a more genericGershwin-like jazz idiom, the repertoire tonight offers us a broadrange of possible interactions between one culture's music andanother," Shapiro said.
A particular highlight of the Saturday program will be apremiere of Professor McDonald's new work, "CalpentynAlternatives."
The piece is heavily influence by Sri Lankan folk music, andthus celebrates the alternative energy efforts in the Calpentynarea of Sri Lanka
"I'm privileged to have them play a new work of mine," McDonaldsaid. "By steeping this trio in imagery from Sri Lankan folktraditions, I have attempted to fashion a paean to the culturalhistory of the region."
McDonald was similarly pleased that the members of Triple Helixhad agreed to conduct a workshop centered on six new works that hadbeen written by students in his current musical compositionseminar.
The Monday workshop, which is open to all students, will featurethe performance and discussion of pieces by several members of theTufts community. Compositions by graduate students Nathan Curtis,Felipe Lara, Marco Visconti-Prasca, Warren A. Weberg, and juniorJason Coleman are to be featured.
As the lone undergraduate to have his piece included in theworkshop, Coleman was enthusiastic about the opportunity. "It isincredible that a professional chamber ensemble has agreed to playworks by composition students," he said.
The music department is indeed excited to host the Triple Helixpiano trio. Financial support from the Toupin Fund and assistancefrom James Glaser, the Dean of Undergraduate Education, allowed themusic department to bring the trio to campus.
The Triple Helix piano trio plays Alumnae Hall this Saturday,Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. Admission is free.
