Chamber Music Corner—Dubois Trio Cantabile
by Layne Anspach
This month’s focus will be on Théodore Dubois’ Trio Cantabile for violin, horn, and piano. Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) was a French composer and organist. He studied organ and piano at the Paris Conservatoire where he later taught harmony and composition (1871-1896), eventually became the school director (1896-1905). Highlighting his compositional ability, he was awarded the Prix de Rome in 1861. An active church organist, he performed at Sainte-Clotilde and the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, having succeeded both Franck and Saint-Saëns. Dubois is best known for his sacred works, but he also wrote many secular works such as this month’s offering. His output includes over 200 chamber works, ballets, operas, masses, and orchestral works.
Trio Cantabile is a short but very lovely piece. The primary instrumentation is violin, horn, and piano, but the horn part can be performed by a cello, and the score indicates piano or organ. In the score, the horn is marked as “Cor chromatique en Fa.” The work is simple in its form with two themes repeated twice each. The first theme is presented by the horn with chordal keyboard accompaniment. The violin later takes up the melody while the horn continues in a supportive role.
After the violin concludes the first melody, the horn takes up the second melody. The second melody dances between duple and triple subdivisions since the whole work is in 9|8. The subdivision shifts easily because the constant keyboard accompaniment is made almost exclusively of dotted half and dotted quarter notes. The violin takes over the second melody with the horn in a supportive role, like in the first half of the piece. The work ends with a short coda which slows into a peaceful ascending resolution.
The reference recording is from the album Horn Trios by Brahms, Kahn, Koechlin Dubois (Affetto). The hornist is Howard Wall.
