Paul Schoenfield's "Cafe Music"

Synopsis

Many a political work of art has had its origin in a smoke-filled room, but not all that many piano trios can claim such a venue for their inspiration. On today’s date in 1987, composer and pianist Paul Schoenfield joined a violinist and cellist from Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for the premiere performance of a new piano trio the orchestra had commissioned, a work Schoenfield eventually titled “Café Music.”

Here’s how Schoenfield explains it: “The idea came to me in 1985 after sitting in one night for the pianist at Murray’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in Minneapolis. Murray’s employed a house trio which played entertaining dinner music in a wide variety of styles. My intention was to write a kind of high-class dinner music—music which could be played at a restaurant, but might also (just barely) find its way into a concert hall. The work draws on the types of music played at Murray’s: early 20th century American, Viennese, light classical, gypsy, and Broadway style are all represented.”

Much to Schoenfield’s surprise, “Cafe Music” became a concert hall hit, performed and recorded by many classical chamber groups. For his part, Schoenfield confesses two lasting memories of that night he filled in at Murray’s: first, a realization of what hard work it was to play dinner music for hours on end, and, second—in the days before smoke-free restaurants—how his clothes smelled of cigars and cigarettes for days afterwards!

Music Played in Today's Program

Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947) Café Music Lev Polyakin, violin; Charles Bernard, cello; Frences Renzi, piano innova 544

On This Day

Births

• 1851 - Flemish composer Jan Blockx, in Antwerp;

• 1886 - German composer and conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, in Berlin;

• 1911 - American composer and pianist Julia Smith, in Denton, Texas;

• 1913 - Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski, in Warsaw;

• 1921 - American composer and conductor Alfred Reed, in New York City;

Premieres

• 1817 - Rossini: opera, "La Cenerentola" (Cinderella), in Rome at the Teatro Valle;

• 1902 - Franz Schmidt: Symphony No. 1, in Vienna;

• 1909 - R. Strauss: opera "Elektra," in Dresden at the Hofoper, conducted by Ernst von Schuch, with soprano Annie Krull in the title role;

• 1946 - R. Strauss: "Metamorphosen," in Zürich;

• 1957 - Walton: Cello Concerto, by the Boston Symphony conducted by Charles Munch, with Gregor Piatigorsky the soloist;

• 1963 - Karl Amadeus Hartmann: Symphony No. 8, by the West German Radio Symphony, Rafael Kubelik conducting;

• 1987 - Paul Schoenfield: "Café Music" for piano trio at a St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert.