Trio Sonata, “Melancolia” (2006)

Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) — Trio Sonata, “Melancolia” (2006) for organ

1) Allegro moderato
2) Rêverie
3) Allegro molto moderato

Trio Sonata, “Melancolia” (2006) takes its mood from the subtitle. The strict three-part writing throughout is put in service of an atmosphere of melancholy, thus being rather different from the extroverted character of most baroque-era trio sonatas. Willscher’s evokes this somewhat elusive emotional state remarkably in this unusual work. The first movement is a cantilena and the second movement a lyric reverie with some blues inflections. The third movement begins with a fughetta followed by a return to the music of the opening and a subdued coda. In all three movements can be heard transformations of the same mixed-mode theme, first heard at the very beginning.

German composer and organist Andreas Willscher (b. 1955) studied composition, theory, and organ in his native Hamburg. In 1971 he was appointed organist of the St. Francis Church in Hamburg and in 2000 of the church of St. Joseph-Wandsbek. In addition, he has been keyboardist for several jazz and rock ensembles. Willscher has received many awards and commissions for his compositions, which range widely in form: from symphonic music and oratorios to cabaret and rock scores. His organ works are very diverse, ranging from large-scale post-tonal pieces to some that blend elements of the traditional repertoire with contemporary jazz and pop influences. In addition to his own composition and performing activities, Willscher has published a number of literary and scientific articles in journals and encyclopedias and has been very active in collecting and preserving lost and forgotten music from earlier eras. In 2015, in honor of his 60th birthday and life’s work as a musician, he was awarded the Johann Wenzel Stamitz Prize from the Arts Guild of Esslingen.