Medailles Antiques

This trio evokes images found on a pair of "medailles antiques" (ancient medallions).  Nymphes a la fontaine (Nymphs at the Spring) opens with closely interlocking figures divided amon the flute, violin and piano, effectively evoking the glitter and splash of a bubbling spring - and reminding us that Gaubert learned a thing or two from his great compatriots Ravel and Debussy.  The nymphs are depicted in languid, sensuous violin solos, abetted intermittently by the flute.  The piano's proposal of a Danse vif (Lively Dance) is first ignored, then taken up by the violin and finally by the flute, in a playful, light-footed conclusion.  Editor Fenwick Smith has intervened in the text as little as possible, correcting obvious errors and inconsistencies, but adding no further suggestions as to style or interpretation.