Journey – Trio for Violin, Bass Clarinet & Piano by Jeff Gao

This piece was commissioned by Trio Clavino in 2013 during their China tour. Titled Journey (行), it consists of four movements: I – Waking (醒) | II – Chanting (吟) | III – Walking (步) | IV – Dancing (舞) The entire work is built around a four-note motif—C#, D, F, and G—which first appears in Movement II, introduced by the solo bass clarinet. Movement I serves as a "prequel," unfolding as a dreamlike deduction of the central motif. Each subsequent movement reinterprets this motif with a distinct tonal identity: Movement II employs a pentatonic scale, evoking the atmosphere of a traditional Chinese folk song. Movement III takes on a jazzy, blues-infused character, lending it a distinctly American feel. Movement IV shifts to an octatonic scale, creating a jagged, modernistic energy.