About

Bearthoven [ \'bâr-toh-vən\ ] is a piano trio creating a new repertoire for a familiar instrumentation by commissioning works from leading young composers. Each a new music specialists in their own right, Karl Larson (piano), Pat Swoboda (bass), and Matt Evans (percussion) have come together to create a versatile trio focused on frequent and innovative commissioning of up-and-coming composers. Bearthoven is rapidly building a diverse repertoire by challenging composers to apply their own voice to an instrumentation that, while common amongst jazz and pop idioms, is currently foreign in the contemporary classical world.

Formed in 2013, Bearthoven has quickly established themselves as a forerunner in the New York City contemporary music scene. With over ten commissioned works in their first two seasons and high profile performances including appearances on the 2014 Bang on a Can Marathon and the 2015 MATA Festival, the ensemble has proven to be an integral part of New York’s musical community. Their affinity for contemporary american works and their commitment to commissioning leading young composers has constructed a unique repertoire that embraces a sound pallet somewhere between jazz, classical and avant-garde.

Music

Repertoire

// Commissioned Works //
Citerman, Ty – Shreds (2014)
Evans, Fjola – Shoaling (2014)
Feery, Amanda - Sun Stands Still (2015)
Frederickson, Brooks – Undertoad (2013)
Gullickson, Luke – Four Trios (2014)
Hjertmann, Benjamin – A Cause for the Augurs (2014)
Knight, Adrian - The Ringing World (2015)
Petuch, Brian – Up Dog (2014)
Randall-Meyers, Brendon – Simple Machine (2014)
Shanfield, Eric – Lightning Field (2013)
Thomson, Ken – Grizzly (2014)
Vine, Anthony – From a forest of standing mirrors (2014)
Weiser, Alex – Roar (2014)
Wilmoth, Charlie - New Work (2015)
Wollschleger, Scott - New Work (2016)

// Other Works //
Bartsch, Nik – Modul 26 (2004)
de la Cour, Adam - Corporate Talent Factor’s Next Top Idol! (2015)
Glass, Philip – Music in Similar Motion (1969)
Glass, Philip - Music in Contrary Motion (1969)
Johnson, Tom – Rational Melodies (1982)
Schoofs, Amanda - Intimate Addictions (2014)
Yun, Du - The Man Who Swallowed a Snake (2015)

//Pre-1950//
John Cage: Quest (1935)
John Cage: In a Landscape (1948)
John Cage: Sweet for Toy Piano (1948) (only use this one if this is stuff we could, but won't play. I don't want to bring a toy piano)
John Cage: Dream (1948)
Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jesus: I-IV (1944)
Debussy: Prelude no. 6, book 1
Debussy: Prelude no. 8, book 1

Videos

Audio

Past groupmuses (1)