Illuminate Season I with Ethel Smyth trio at Late Music York on 7th September 2019

Blair Boyd (b.1990): Undercurrent (2019) for piano trio (illuminate commission)

The largely atmospheric opening of Undercurrent comprises of dovetailed expressive lines in the violin and cello underpinned by muddled chords in the piano’s lower register. In the faster central section of the piece, the dense piano chords evolve into secco rhythmic pulsations which provide a mechanical-like current for the dialogue between the violin and cello pair. The final section of the piece is a return to the atmospheric opening as the original piano chords repeat in a pattern at a differing rate in each instrument, which is slowly augmented until the individual streams converge.
© Blair Boyd 2019

Blair Boyd Undercurrent

American composer based in Chicago; Cardiff Uni PhD alumna; Illuminate Co-Director; Britten-Pears Young Artist 2019-2020

Blair Boyd Undercurrent

Illuminate Women's Music