Under a Veil of Stars
| Year Composed: | 2022 |
| Instrumentation: | violin, cello, piano |
| Duration | 25 minutes |
| I. | The Stars Are Never Still |
| II. | Land of Poison Trees |
| III. | in that shoreless ocean... |
CD Release
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Commissions and Awards
- Commissioned originally by the Ayr Trio, with assistance from the Ontario Arts Council.
Program Notes
Under a Veil of Stars was commissioned originally by the AYR Trio, which at the time was composed of pianist Angela Park, violinist Yehonatan Berick, and cellistRachel Mercer. Yehonatan's sudden passing in 2020 altered not only the constitution of the trio, but the music itself -- its materials, structure, and purpose. What began as another fantastical journey became, instead, a tribute to a man, whose legacy of inspiring others I have tried to do musical justice to. It is a memorial painted not in somber hues (although there are certainly somber moments) but in vibrant, life-affirming colours. It is a work that embraces lyricism, virtuosity, passion, otherworldliness, and -- eventually -- a kind of grace that I can attribute only to Yehonatan's guiding spirit.
The trio is structured in three movements which -- taken as a whole -- suggest a broad life cycle that chronicles childhood, adulthood, and old age. The first movement (I. The Stars Are Never Still) is based on a short story I wrote in 2021 for my friend's one-year-old daughter, about a girl who chases (and catches) stars. The music explores the spirit of wonder and adventure associated with childhood, with shimmering textures evocative of sky brimming with stars; as well as the bittersweetness of surrendering something precious to the will of the universe. By contrast, the second movement (II. Land of Poison Trees) is a distinctly grown-up meditation on resentment and revenge. A fantastical rumination on William Blake's poem A Poison Tree, the movement's scherzo-and-trio form houses a cauldron of musical snakes -- queasy string pitch-bends, explosive dissonances, and a driving, propulsive piano part. Brief lyrical episodes and an eerie, 'classical' coda suggest the pretense of civility which often masks the rage beneath.
Rabindranath Tagore's poem Sail Away provides the impetus for the third movement, III. In That Shoreless Ocean... This movement reflects an earnest (and at times despairing) attempt to grapple with death, with grief, and finally with the possibility of transcendent reunion. The movement spotlights the cello, both in its opening lament, and in the pastoral, Beethovenian chorale which -- after a series of exhausting, oceanic crests and troughs -- arrives like sunlight upon the shores of a new world.
Under a Veil of Stars is dedicated in loving memory to Yehonatan Berick.
Performances
- April 30, 2022 - Scott St. John, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. First Unitarian Church, Hamilton, ON
- November 17, 2022 - Scott St. John, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. COC Noon Hour Series, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON
- December 1, 2022 - Scott St. John, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. University of Western Ontario, London, ON
- December 4, 2022 - Scott St. John, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. Heliconian Hall, Toronto, ON
Reviews
- "The opening of the first movement, The Stars are Never Still, demonstrates limpid, supple piano playing, complemented by exquisite, warm string sonorities. Lau's fluid writing evokes colourful spaces and varied textures. Flavours of Spanish and modal music, combined with echoes of the classical and popular music repertoires, bring interesting accents to the work, recalling a spirit of American naivete (derived from Aaron Copland).
The second movement, Land of Poison Trees, features repetitive rhythmic and melodic motifs, reflecting the cacophony of modern life. The consonant harmonies are pleasant to listen to, and the trio's excellent playing expresses Lau's musical sounds with tenderness and warmth. In contrast, the third movement, In That Shoreless Ocean, creates an atmosphere of resignation: the end of a short, eventful life for this magnificent piano trio.
A wonderful discovery of contemporary works that are accessible, pleasant to listen to and rich in all aspects: melody, rhythm, colour and harmony, counterpoint, technique, sonority and timbre. Thanks to the excellent sound recording by Leaf Music's producers, Lau's imagination is fully captured and expressed by the brilliant playing of the St. John-Mercer-Park trio. A gift for all music lovers: to be listened to and savoured." - Viktor Lazarov, La Scena Musicale (album review)
- "The first movement, The Stars are Never Still, is based on a short story in which a girl who loves catching stars finds one that continues to elude her. When she finally catches the star, its light dwindles: a loss of childhood innocence. The trio transitioned easily between airy playfulness, dramatic chase-like melodies with lots of tremolo, and a slower conclusion to portray themes of this story. The melody was shared by the three instruments. In a private conversation at intermission, Lau described this compositional choice as making reference to well-established chamber music traditions. Park played in a flighty, flourish-heavy style, which she maintained throughout the concert. Lau described her playing as the manifestation of a "cosmic being."
The shared melodies continued through the second movement, which conjured the resentment and frustrations of adulthood through sharp violin stings and more aggressive tremolo. The melodic exchanges were less present in the third movement, whose focus is the cello solo. It depicts a moment of contemplation that precedes death. This movement demonstrated the trio’s excellent use of silence, stillness, and long-drawn notes to accentuate emotion." Zenith Wolfe, La Scena Musicale (concert review)
Articles
- "Prepare to be transported by 'Under a Veil of Stars'" - Hamilton Spectator