Formalism - Who knows what that means? Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Khatchaturian were all accused of it by the Stalinist state. It is, I believe, a totally made up expression. A way of denouncing the creative artist. So I am very happy to subtitle this string trio 'formalism' as a protest against the 'anti-formalists'. The opening three motifs in this work are based on the initials of three composers - BACH, DSCH and CD (I humbly add my own initials). The development that ensues from these simple motifs is in fact quite complex and many themes and melodies suggested themselves. The work is in four movements overall and each instrument carries equal weight throughout. I am very pleased with this composition. It has been refreshing to compose for these three instruments, which normally live within the string quartet.
