Fartein Valen: Piano Trio, Op.5 (Nilsson/Waldeland/Knardahl)

Fartein Valen (1887–1952): Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op.5 (1917–1924) Stig Nilsson, violin Hege Waldeland, cello Eva Knardahl, piano (rec. 1995) 00:00 – Moderato 08:19 – Scherzo. Allegro 10:44 – Largo 15:37 – Finale. Allegro molto The Piano Trio was Valen’s last stepping stone before he abandoned tonal writing completely in his Goethe-poems (Op.6, 1924–1927). It is a natural stylistic continuation of the development that began with his Violin Sonata (1913–1917). The pathos of the late romantic tradition is still very much present, but with a clear wish to break free from the confines of a traditional tonal language. Extended harmonies rarely resolve to consonant triads; instead, the voice leading leads to new dissonances – dissonant tonality in the words of Olav Gurvin. The work never announces its tonality clearly, but the tonal centre is arguably C – best exemplified by the two last bars which has f-g-c in the bass. To put it crudely: a IV-V-I with extensions. Nilsson, Waldeland and Knardahl puts in a very appealing performance. The piano part is densely written, with polyphonic writing that often span several octaves. Despite this, the playing does not feel forced or tense. I particularly enjoy the light playfulness achieved in the Scherzo.