I was inspired to compose a piece based off of themes from J.S. Bach's Organ Trio No. 1 in Eb Major, BWV 525. When I first began this work back in July, I decided to write it for and according to the preferences and skills of the performers that I had available and willing. In doing so, I hoped that I would actually get it played live (you'll notice that most of the music on my profile is still generated from Finale). Well, unfortunately, due to some ensuing drama and severing of ties and friendships, as well as a few other outlying circumstances, that fell through, but I wanted to finish what I started. Here's the score in its entirety, with audio generated by NotePerformer 3.3.2. If anybody is interested in trying the piece out for themselves, or would like for me to arrange it for an alternative ensemble, feel free to shoot me an email at trevormcintosh110@gmail.com. I should also have free .pdf's of the score and parts uploaded to my website here pretty soon, at trevortmcintosh.com.

I. Allegro moderato - a mostly joyous movement in Eb Major, organized in a kind of rondo form

II. Adagio - a slow and intensely somber A section in C Minor is followed by a more content (if somewhat austere and proud) B section in G Phrygian. The movement is then capped off with a fugal section that combines both themes in C Minor

III. Allegro - a celebratory, almost fanfare like section in Eb major is followed by a tense, almost wailing B section in F Dorian. The entire octet is then capped off with a fugue that recalls all of the themes from each movement.

Happy listening! :)

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: I. Allegro Moderato

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: II. Adagio

Octet No. 1 In Eb Major, Op. B9c: III. Allegro

Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (née Kingsmill April 1661 - August 5th, 1720) was an English poet and courtier who is widely regarded as one of the most integral female poets of the Restoration Era. Her 1701 work "The Tree" is a pastoral poem that praises the beauty of a particularly old and long standing tree, treating this piece of nature as an almost independent agent willing to be a complimentary helper to all the people around it, even in death. I added a flute to this particular song setting in order to represent the lauding bird song and the reed song of the shepherd.

The text:

Fair tree! for thy delightful shade
'Tis just that some return be made;
To thy cool shadows, and to thee.
When thou to birds doest shelter give,
Thou music doest from them receive;
If travellers beneath thee stay
Till storms have worn themselves away,
That time in praising thee they spend
And thy protecting pow'r commend.
The shepherd here, from scorching freed,
Tunes to thy dancing leaves his reed;
Whilst his lov'd nymph, in thanks, bestows
Here flow'ry chaplets on thy boughs.
Shall I then only silent be,
And no return be made by me?
No; let this wish upon thee wait,
And still to flourish be thy fate.
To future ages may'st thou stand
Untouch'd by the rash workman's hand,
Till that large stock of sap is spent,
Which gives thy summer's ornament;
Till the fierce winds, that vainly strive
To shock thy greatness whilst alive,
Shall on thy lifeless hour attend,
Prevent the axe, and grace thy end;
Their scatter'd strength together call
And to the clouds proclaim thy fall;
Who then their ev'ning dews may spare
When thou no longer art their care,
But shalt, like ancient heroes, burn,
And some bright hearth be made thy urn.

-Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea, 1701

"The Tree" (Note Performer mockup)

Hello everyone! My name is Trevor McIntosh, and I'm a Dallas/Fort Worth area based up and coming music composer looking to share my passion with the world! At my alma mater, Southwestern University, I received two years of training under Dr. Jason Hoodergyde and around five months of instruction under Dr. Michael Mikulka. I write various forms of modern classical music and alternative rock music. As for now, I'll be using this channel to post any studio or live recordings of my music that I'm able to obtain!

"The Tree" (Note Performer mockup)

Trevor McIntosh

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