New Work from Composer Juri Seo

Poulenc Trio recently premiered a new work by composer Juri Seo at Strathmore, Washington DC. The piece is one of two recent works by Juri Seo (pronounced [Joo-ri Suh]) commissioned by the Poulenc Trio with support from the Steven Gerber Trust. The premiere will be dedicated to the late composer Steven R. Gerber, a long time collaborator with the Poulenc Trio.

About the new composition

The new work, entitled Mélodie de Poulenc, is composer Juri Seo's musical response to the 1926 Trio for piano, oboe, and bassoon by French composer Francis Poulenc, the ensemble's namesake. According to Seo, "There’s much to love about Poulenc’s Trio. My Mélodie de Poulenc is built almost entirely on [a theme from Poulenc's Trio]."  Seo notes that her decision to work with Poulenc's material came from a discussion with members of the ensemble early in the composition process. "It seemed apt to merge our love for lyricism while sending a nod to the eponymous composer," said Seo.

About Poulenc Trio

The Poulenc Trio, comprised of pianist Irina Kaplan Lande, oboist Alexander Vvedenskiy, and bassoonist Bryan Young, has rediscovered and redefined piano-wind chamber music for the 21st century.  In a recent review, the New York Times praised the Trio for its “elegant rendition” of Piazzolla Tangos. The Washington Post said the trio “does its namesake proud” in “an intriguing and beautifully played program” with “convincing elegance, near effortless lightness and grace.” The group has been called “virtuosos of classical and contemporary chamber music” in one profile for Russian television. The Trio is committed to commissioning, performing and recording new works from contemporary composers. Since its founding, the Trio has greatly expanded the repertoire available for the oboe, bassoon and piano, with more than 20 new works written or arranged for the group, including three concertos for Trio and orchestra.

About the Composer, Juri Seo

Juri Seo (b. 1981) is a Korean-American composer and pianist. She seeks to write music that encompasses extreme contrast through compositions that are unified and fluid, yet complex.  Her composition honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Koussevitzky Commission from the Library of Congress, and the Andrew Imbrie Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is Associate Professor of Music at Princeton University. In 2020, Seo composed a new work for the Poulenc Trio and accordionist Hanzhi Wang, entitled Breathing Light, also commissioned with support from the Gerber Trust.

About Composer Steven R. Gerber and the Gerber Trust

Composer Steven R. Gerber's music gained international attention as a result of recorded CD releases featuring several of his major works for orchestra. Gerber studied with Robert Parris, J. K. Randall, Earl Kim, and Milton Babbitt and held degrees from Haverford College and from Princeton University. Gerber wrote several works for the Poulenc Trio, including one of his final works, written for Poulenc Trio bassoonist Bryan Young. The Steven R. Gerber Trust was established after Gerber’s death in 2015 to support the creation of projects designed to highlight and elevate interest in Gerber's work.