“Heritage” program note
Fantasy trio, Op. 26
Miriam Beatrice Hyde was born in Adelaide on 15 January, 1913. The Hyde residence was a musical household, and Miriam’s mother, Muriel, was a keen and gifted amateur pianist. Miriam began composing at a very young age. In 1926 she met and was able to show some of her compositions to Percy Grainger, who was conducting an orchestral project in Adelaide at the time. Hyde completed a Bachelor of Music at the Elder Conservatorium, then won a scholarship to study for three years at the Royal College in London, from 1932-1935. This Fantasy trio was written in 1933, most likely for the Cobbett Fantasy prize. Around this time, the combination of overwork and living away from the support of family unfortunately resulted in Hyde experiencing a mental breakdown, however after a period of respite she was able to return to her studies.
In the style of many of the Fantasy (or Phantasy) chamber works from the English pastoral school during early 20th century, this Fantasy trio in B minor consists of one continuous movement with sections of contrasting themes, tempi and keys. It opens with a dramatic (even youthfully melodramatic) statement of the main theme. A quieter melody over rolling triplets in the piano gives way to a grazioso section marked poco meno mosso. Another statement of each of these three themes gradually gives way to a magical slow waltz in triple time, marked piu lento. Cantabile, accompanied by delicate legato triplet quavers in the piano line. A series of rapid demi-semiquaver gestures in Bb minor in the piano opens the con moto section, with a soaring melody and counter-melody in the violin and cello respectively. The final section, marked Allegro energico briefly revisits the main themes before ending with a grand sweeping gesture in B major.
Miriam at work in her student digs, London 1930s. (source: Complete Accord p. 43)
To purchase a copy of this score, visit the Australian Music Centre.
The Miriam Hyde documentary can be accessed online with a public library card here.