THE VERDEHR TRIO, an acknowledged leader in the
field of new music, for nearly 40 years has concentrated on molding and
defining the personality of the violin-clarinet-piano trio. The Trio has
created a large repertoire by commissioning
over 200 new works from some of the worldÕs most prominent and exciting
composers– known and unknown, young and old, from this country and
abroad. These efforts are entitled The Making of a Medium because, in a real sense, this is what has happened
over the years.
A
few earlier trios by Bartok, Stravinsky, Milhaud, Khachaturian, Berg, and Ives
showed the potential tonal and musical possibilities of this grouping. Now,
with more than 200 works in this genre, the violin-clarinet-piano trio has
become a viable chamber music medium whose substantial literature may be
recognized together with other major mediums as the piano trio, woodwind and
brass quintets, and the piano quartet. To round out its repertoire with
Classical and Romantic works, the Trio has rediscovered as well as transcribed
18th and 19th century pieces for inclusion in its concert programs.
The
Verdehr Trio has performed throughout the world: in 19 European countries, the
former Soviet Union, in South and Central America, as well as in Asia,
Australia and all 50 of the United States. Among
major concert halls where the Trio has appeared are Kennedy Center, Lincoln
Center, Library of Congress, ViennaÕs Brahmssaal, Sydney Opera House, LondonÕs
Wigmore Hall, Auditorio de Madrid, Dvorak Hall in Prague, IRCAM Centre in Paris
and LeningradÕs Philharmonic Chamber Hall. The Trio has also played at various
international festivals – the Spoleto Festival, Prague Spring Festival,
the Vienna Spring Festival, the Warsaw Autumn Festival, and the Grand Teton
Music Festival. The Trio has received a Creative Programming Award from Chamber
Music America.
A
parallel project to the Crystal CD recordings of the new works created for the
Trio is The
Making of a Medium Video Series, consisting of 10 half-hour programs with interviews and
discussions by composers and performers as well as a complete performance of
each work. Hosted by Martin Bookspan and Peter Schickele, these are available
in a variety of video formats from the Instructional Media Center at Michigan
State University. Another project, The Making of a Medium Music Publishing Series, has been started in cooperation
with the MSU Press, to help disseminate the repertoire as well as information
about the TrioÕs CD recordings and videos.
The
Verdehr Trio is in residence at Michigan State University in East Lansing,
Michigan. An article about the Trio appears in the new Groves Dictionary of
Music.
WALTER VERDEHR was born in Gottschee, Yugoslavia
and received his first violin instruction at the Conservatory of Music in Graz,
Austria. A student at The Juilliard School, he was the first violinist to
receive the doctorate there and as a Fulbright Scholar, he studied at the
Vienna Academy of Music. He has taught at the International Congress of Strings
faculty and at Michigan State University where he is Professor of Music and
recently received the Distinguished Faculty Award. He has made numerous
appearances as soloist with orchestras (Houston Symphony, orchestras in
Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, California, Czechoslovakia, and
Turkey) and in solo and chamber music recitals in the U.S. and Europe. The
London Times wrote that Òhis performance was sweeping and vigorousÓ. The Vienna Express said that Òhe is a perfect violinist
with beautiful blossoming tone and noble musicality.Ó He has served on the juries for
the Naumburg and Prague Spring International violin competitions and has made
solo recordings for Crystal, Golden Crest Records, and NET-TV. He performs on
the ex ÒStephens-VerdehrÓ Stradivarius of 1690.
ELSA LUDEWIG-VERDEHR studied at the Oberlin
Conservatory and at the Eastman School where she received a PerformerÕs
Certificate and the DMA degree. She has performed, lectured, and given master
classes at numerous national and international Clarinet Congresses and for
several years was a participant in the Marlboro Music Festivals and touring
groups. She has appeared frequently in the U.S., Canada, and abroad as a
recitalist, clinician, and soloist with orchestras and as principal clarinetist
of the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra. As a member of the Richards Wind
Quintet, she played in more than half of the United States, Canada, and at the
White House. She was recently awarded a Distinguished University Professorship at
Michigan State University and her students occupy numerous university and
orchestral positions throughout the U.S. and abroad. She has solo recordings on
Grenadilla and Mark labels. Her playing has been called Òdistinguished and musicalÓ by the NY Times. The Boston Globe noted her Òmusical tone and
elegant sense of phrasingÓ while the Chicago Tribune wrote of her Òvirtuosity of a most compelling sortÓ. In 2007 she
was awarded honorary membership in the International Clarinet Society for her Òlifetime achievements as a
performer and teacherÓ.
SILVIA ROEDERER was born in
Argentina, but her musical training began in the U.S. After graduating from the
Eastman School with high honors, she completed her doctoral degree as a student
of John Perry at the University of Southern California. She is currently
Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, where she serves as Chair of
the Keyboard Area, teaches piano, chamber music, pedagogy, and coordinates
graduate assistant teaching. A winner of several important competitions,
including the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, she has appeared
as soloist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra and the Jacksonville (FL)
Symphony Orchestra. Her Los Angeles debut was an acclaimed recital at the
prestigious Ambassador Auditorium, where her Òcontrol,
introspective poise, and elegantly pointed phrasesÓ drew special
praise from the Los
Angeles Times. In addition to her appearances with the Verdehr Trio, her
performing career in the last decade has revolved around chamber music –
as duo pianist with her husband Leslie Tung and as collaborator with her
colleagues at Western Michigan University.
VERDEHR TRIO DISCOGRAPHY
Walter
Verdehr, Violin; Elsa Ludwig-Verdehr, Clarinet; Silvia Roederer, Piano.
Volumes 1 through 10 have Gary Kirkpatrick on
piano. Volume 11 has Kathryn Brown
on piano and Volume 12 has Kim Schmidt and Gary Kirkpatrick on piano. The rest have Silvia Roederer on piano.
The Verdehrs have commissioned over 200 works
by the most important composers in the world for the
violin-clarinet-piano trio, thus effectively creating this medium.
Complementing this repertoire, the Trio transcribes works from earlier periods.
The Making of a Medium is a continuing project. The recordings have brought
critical acclaim for the music and the Verdehr Trio. "A true ensemble
of outstanding players who have obvious love for the music." -- American Record Guide
All of our CDs are now available for ordering
on-line, through our associate CCNow. If the item says ORDER NOW
click on those words and go to our shopping cart. You are still able to
order via e-mail, info@crystalrecords.com., or place your order by phone at 360-834-7022 or on our
24-hour fax line at 360-834-9680. See information on our main page. Price of all
CDs is $16.95. U.S. shipping is
$2.00 per order.
Our 4 for 3 offer is now available on-line. When you
order 4 CDs, what you need to do is place the order for the first 3 CDs using
the Order Now buttons. Before checking out you will be given an opportunity to
write a comment to go with your order. In the "other notes or
instructions" space, write FREE CD with
the catalog number of the one you want. In that way, you will receive the 4 CDs
and only be charged for 3.
EXTRA SPECIAL: The Verdehr Trio now has 20 CDs in its Making
of a Medium series. You can get
all 20 of these at more than a 36% discount, total $215, plus the usual
shipping of only $2 per order for US, $5 per order for Canada, and $10 per
order for other countries. If interested in the 20 volume set, click here: ORDER NOW
CD741: VERDEHR TRIO, The Making of a Medium, vol. 1 . Mozart, Trio in D Major, K381;
Frescobaldi, Canzoni a due; Alan Hovhaness, Lake Samish, op. 415;
Thomas Pasatieri, Theatrepieces; Bela Bartok, Contrasts.
Walter Verdehr, violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet; Gary Kirkpatrick,
piano. "recommended", Fanfare UPC
00941477412-5 
ORDER
NOW
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear
approximately one minute of the movement shown.
Mozart Trio: Mvt
1 (Allegro) Mvt
2 (Andante) Mvt
3(Allegro molto) Hovhaness
Lake Samish: Mvt
1(Andante-Fugue) Mvt
2(Allegro) Mvt
3 Mvt
4 Mvt
5 Frescobaldi:
Canzoni No.
2 No.
5 Pasatieri: Theatrepieces No.
1 No.
2 No.
3 Bartok: Mvt
1 Mvt
2 Mvt
3
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This is volume 11 of the Verdehr's Making of a Medium
series. This is one of Menotti's
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CD743:
THE VERDEHR TRIO, The Making of a Medium, vol. 3:
CD745:
THE VERDEHR TRIO, The Making of a Medium, Vol. 5.
CD746:
THE VERDEHR TRIO, The Making of a Medium, Vol 6. 
CD747:
THE VERDEHR TRIO, Music of James Niblock. Vol. 7.
CD748:
TRIPLE CONCERTOs by David Ott and William Wallace
CD942: AMERICAN IMAGES:Verdehr
Trio. Vol. 12. Paul Chihara,
Trio; David Diamond, Duo for Violin & Clarinet; Marc Satterwhite, Time Considered
as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones; Jonathan Kramer, Serbelloni Serenade; John
Biggs, Medieval Dance Suite; Donald Erb, Sunlit Peaks and Dark Valleys.
UPC 00941479422-2
This is volume 12 of the Making of a Medium series. ORDER
NOW
Sound
samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up
to one minute of the movement shown.
Chihara Trio: Mvt
1 (Andante) Mvt
2 (Moderato) Mvt
3 (Moderato) Diamond: Duo Satterwhite: Time
Considered
Kramer: Serbelloni
Serenade Biggs: Medieval
Dance Suite Erb Sunlit
Peaks: Mvt
1 Mvt
2 (Childrens Song) Mvt
3
CD943: AMERICAN IMAGES 2. The
Verdehr Trio. Vol. 13. Sebastian Currier, Verge; Joan Tower,
Rain Waves; George Gershwin/William Brohn, I Got Variations; Dan Welcher,
Phaedrus; John Biggs, Renaissance Bouquet; Charles Hoag, Sweet Melancholy(lost
your dolly) SlowDrag Rag. UPC 00941479432-1.
The Verdehr Trio Violin: Walter Verdehr, Clarinet: Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Piano:
Silvia Roederer, piano. This is volume 13 of the Making of a Medium series, in
which the Verdehr Trio presents some of the 130 new works that it has
commissioned from many of the world's most prominent composers.
Sebastian Currier teaches at
Columbia University in NYC, Joan Tower from NYC lives in Hartford Conn.;
William David Brohn is a renowned orchestrator and arranger for Broadway shows
in NYC; Dan Welcher teaches at University of Texas at Austin; John Biggs lives
in Ventura, California; Charles Hoag is professor of music at the University of
Kansas in Lawrence. ORDER
NOW
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement
shown.
Currier Verge: Mvt
1(fast) Mvt
2(slow) Mvt
3(mechanical) Mvt
4(dark) Mvt
5(light) Mvt
6(fractured) Mvt
7(too much) Mvt
8(too little) Mvt
9(calm) Tower: Rain
Waves Brohn: Variations
Welcher Phaedrus: Mvt
1(Apollo's Lyre) Mvt
2(Dionysus' Dream) Biggs: Renaissance
Bouquet Hoag: Sweet
Melancholy
CD944: AUSTRIAN IMAGES. Vol. 14. The
Verdehr Trio. Iv‡n Erod, Trio, op. 59*; Thomas Christian David,
Trios Numbers 1, 2, and 3**; Gottfried von Einem, Verdehr-Trio, op. 97*.
UPC 00941479442-0 ORDER
NOW
Walter Verdehr, violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet; Silvia Roederer* and
Gary Kirkpatrick**, piano. This is
volume 14 of the Making of a Medium series.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement
shown.
Erod Trio: Mvt
1(Transitions) Mvt
2(Variations) David Trio No. 1: Mvt
1(Allegro) Mvt
2(Andante) Mvt
3(Presto) von Einem Trio: Mvt
1(Etwas bewegter) Mvt
2(Unruhig) Mvt
3(Gemessen) Mvt
4(Sturmisch) David Trio No. 2: Mvt
1(Allegro) Mvt
2(Aria) Mvt
3(Presto) David Trio No. 3: Mvt
1(Vivace) Mvt
2(Andante) Mvt
3(Moderato)
CD945: DOUBLE CONCERTOS FOR VIOLIN
AND CLARINET by William Wallace, Dinos
Constantinides, and James Niblock.
Vol. 15. Walter Verdehr, Violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Clarinet;
Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, Kirk Trevor, Conductor; Slovak Radio Orchestra,
Jiri Tomasek, Conductor. UPC 00941479452-9ORDER
NOW
This is the 15th CD in the Verdehr
Trio's recordings of works they have commissioned, mostly for the trio
combination of violin, clarinet, and piano. This CD features the violin and
clarinet.. Strad Magazine called their series "Remarkable collection by
a remarkable ensemble" and the American
Record Guide said "Brilliant in every department." The Verdehrs teach at Michigan State University in
East Lansing, Michigan.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement
shown.
Wallace Concerto: Mvt
1(Allegro) Mvt
2(Andante) Mvt
3(Allegro vivace) Constantinides Concerto of Psalms: Mvt
1(From the Heart) Mvt
2(Eternal Song) Mvt
3(Paean) Niblock Concerto:
Mvt 1(Allegro moderato) Mvt
2(Adagio) Mvt
3(Allegro)
CD946: International
Connections. The Verdehr Trio. Vol. 16.
Jennifer Higdon, Dash; Gernot Wolfgang, Reflections; Bright Sheng,
Tibetan Dance; Stephen Chatman, Trio; Wolfgang Rihm, GesangstŸck. UPC
00941479462-8 ORDER
NOW
This CD is volume 16 of the Making of a Medium series by the Verdehr Trio, which has commissioned more than 200 works for the violin, clarinet, piano ensemble. The Trio and the composers on this CD are a vibrant part of the international community. Performers in the Verdehr Trio are Walter Verdehr, violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet; and Silvia Roederer, piano.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer)
Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Higdon: Dash Wolfgang: Reflections
Sheng: Tibetan Dance: Prelude Song
Tibetan Dance
Chatman: Trio: Scales Blues
Dance
Rihm: GesangstŸck
CD947: American Images 3: The
Michigan Connection. Vol. 17. The Verdehr Trio. – Walter Verdehr, Violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr,
Clarinet; Silvia Roederer, Piano. David Liptak, Commedia;
Arnold Black/William Bolcom, Envio; Robert Mann, Katchi-Katchi; Charles
Ruggiero, Collage; James Hartway, five postcards (from Michigan). UPC
00941479472-7 ORDER NOW
For over 30 years the Verdehr
Trio has been commissioning, performing, and recording new works for violin,
clarinet, and piano. Fanfare Magazine has said "the breadth of these
commissions is amazing" and Strad Magazine says "the quality of the results is
astonishingly high." The group is in-residence at Michigan State University and tours
worldwide regularly. This CD features composers with whom the Verdehr Trio has
had connections in Michigan.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the
movement shown.
Liptak: Commedia Mvt.
1 Mvt.2 Mvt.3 Mvt.4 Black/Bolcom: Envoi Mann: Katchi-Katchi Ruggiero: Collage Hartway: five
postcards: motor
city carillon
tower the
falls mysterious
dunes fudge
island Curtis-Smith:
Trio Mvt.1 Mvt.2 Mvt.
3
CD948: THE VERDEHR TRIO, Making of a Medium, ÒMusic from Down UnderÓ Vol. 18. UPC 00941479482-6. 
ORDER
NOW
Peter Sculthorpe,
Baltimore Songlines; Barry Conyngham, Playground; Douglas Knehans, rivŽ;
Richard Mills, Four Miniatures; Christopher Marshall, Three Aspects of Spring.
The
Verdehr Trio – Walter Verdehr, violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet;
Silvia Roederer, piano – is an acknowledged leader in the field of new
music. This is the 18th CD in ÒThe
Making of a MediumÓ series, in which the Verdehr Trio has recorded more than 60
premiere recordings, a part of over 200 works that the group has commissioned. ÒThe
breadth of these commissions is amazing.Ó (Fanfare) The quality of the results is
astonishingly high.Ó (STRAD Magazine).
This CD features music written for the group by composers from Australia and
New Zealand.
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up
to one minute of the movement shown.
Sculthorpe: Baltimore
Songlines Conyngham: Playground
Knehans: rive
Mills: Four Miniatures Lento
Allegro
Adagio
Presto
Marshall: Three Aspects of Spring October
Idyll Bushwalk
Synergy
CD949 & CD970: American Images 4 & 5. These two CDs are volumes 19 and 20 of the Making of a Medium series by the Verdehr Trio – Walter Verdehr, violin; Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clarinet; Silvia Roederer, piano. The Trio has commissioned over 200 works by some of the worldÕs most prominent composers. ÒThe breadth of these commissions is amazingÓ (Fanfare). ÒThe quality of the results is astonishingly highÓ (Strad) ——
CD949: Ricardo Lorenz, Compass Points; Kevin Puts, Three Nocturnes; August
Read Thomas, Dancing Helix Rituals; Lee Hoiby, Rock Valley Trio; Stefan Freund,
Triodances. UPC 009414794925
ORDER
NOW
CD949 Sound samples
(mp3 files) Click on
the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
Lorenz: Compass Points Verde
que te quiero Verdehr In
memoriam Robert Avalon Scherzarengue Puts: Three Nocturnes
Con
moto Flowing;
non troppo lento Molto
adagio Thomas: Dancing
Helix Rituals Hoiby: Rock
Valley Trio Freund: Triodances Freunuet
and (Verdehr) Trio Pastorale Tarantelly
(to
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button)
CD970: Margaret Brouwer, Trio; Roberto Sierra,
Recordando una melodia olvidada; Gernot Woflgang, Sketchbook; William Wallace,
Sonata a Tre. UPC 009414797025 ORDER
NOW
CD970 Sound samples
(mp3 files) Click on
the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
Brouwer Trio: Mvmt
I Joyful Moment Mvmt
II Reverie Mvmt
III Escaping Sierra: Recordando
una melodia olvidada Wolfgang Sketch Book: Green
Island Night
Breeze Chromatic
Train Wallace Sonata a Tre: Mvmt
I
Allegro Mvmt
II
Andante semplice Mvmt
III Dance (to
return to this page after listening to samples, please use your browser back
button)
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