violin, violincello, piano (about 16 minutes)

I composed Sound and Fury (2004) for the Blakemore Trio while I was in residence at the MacDowell Colony. I strove to create a work that would show off the ensemble's technical prowess with flashy passages and energetic, driving rhythms at times, but at other times would have soaring lyrical melodies. I felt inspiration, not only from my performers in Nashville, but also from my surroundings at the artist colony. The beautiful landscape and the quiet allowed me to focus on my music.

Sound and Fury is in three movements. The first movement is in several sections, each displaying a different character. The movement begins and ends with a melody played in octaves in the strings and loud chords in the piano. Another section is built on short jabs of repeated notes and chords. Another is slow and very sparse, with string harmonics and sliding pizzicatos. In contrast, yet another section has fast and frantic writing, invoking the sound of the buzz of a bee.

The second movement is slow and lyrical, starting with a chorale-like texture in the piano, then adding the melodious cello and violin parts. The final movement is a fast and furious rondo.

Score and parts available for purchase (please email me at paul@paulosterfield.com):

Recording available from Amazon or iTunes.