Two of the most popular works ever written for small ensemble are Beethoven's Septet and Schubert's Octet. A concert promoter, however, has a challenge building a whole program around one of them. The instruments involved don't form combinations for which there's a widely varied repertoire.
First Companion is the first of a projected series of works to address this challenge. It can similarly be used to flesh out a program that includes Stravinsky's Septet — a refreshing and witty piece that deserves more performances.
The rather odd title of the first movement refers to a similarity, which I discovered late in the composing process, between this movement and the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. Companions gather to plan a journey; they set off; at intervals they pass the expected milestones; eventually they retrace their steps, passing the milestones in reverse order; all the way they are telling each other stories, some well-told and others badly told; at times they are at odds with each other; finally they gather in a pub to refresh their spirits before taking the last homeward steps.
The final milestone is within sight when the second movement interrupts. It's titled Melodies because everything in the movement is a melody — except for some rather dull accompaniment figures played by the cello. The cello is never quite comfortable in this secondary role, and makes various attempts to state its own melodies.
The third movement is full of high spirits like the first — and like the great pieces by Beethoven, Stravinsky and Schubert to which I offer this companion.