Sean William Calhoun | Composer and pianist

Core, for piano trio (2013) – 7'

Core begins solemnly with the strings in a slow canon, interrupted by the piano’s chords giving momentary harmonic stability before turning even thornier. The trio builds slowly to a heavy climax before receding back into canons. A rhythmic ostinato builds tension once again until it bursts into a new, faster tempo. More possages of canons and rhythmic ostinati continue, leading to a dramatic climax, which then recedes, with the piece ending, as it began, with the strings alone.

Recording and score

Listen (Gregory Maytan, violin; Jonathan Kirkscey, cello; Andrew Drannon, piano)