Cafe Music for Piano Trio by Martin Yates. Score & Parts

The first movement First Waltz is a delicate waltz, very English in spirit. The Lopsided Polka is just that (imagine three old ladies playing in the Pump Room in Bath, with none of them able to agree on the time signatures or the rhythms in this polka). Valse d’Amour is a beautiful melody played on the ‘cello, whose intention it is to remind the listener of the love theme from a turn of the century operetta, and Midsummer Waltz is a happy forward looking dance, simple and straightforward with a charm all of its own. For colleges, conservatories and professionals.

Review: “A charming four-movement suite for piano trio, comprising 4 dances light-hearted in style and very accessible. First Waltz is lively and fun with much interplay between the parts. Lopsided Polka has regular changes of time signature and is more rhythmically complex, but still with a lively dance-like feel and fun to play. Valse d’Amour has a more leisurely and romantic feel as the title suggests – it is essentially a solo for ‘cello with a rippling arpeggiated piano accompaniment, with the violin tacet throughout. Midsummer Waltz is more of a duet between violin and ‘cello, again lively, bringing the work to a triumphant close. A nice light contrast to an otherwise classical programme for a concert.” – Dr. Rachel Smith DMA, MA, BMus (Hons), FTCL – January 2013.

Review: “This delightful suite of original, easy-listening pieces will lighten any concert or enhance any professional trio’s ‘gig book’.” – New Issues, November 1994