Synopsis

Many political deals started in smoke-filled rooms, but not many piano trios can claim such a venue for their inspiration. On today’s date in 1987, composer and pianist Paul Schoenfield joined a violinist and cellist from the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for the premiere of one of them: Café Music, a new piano trio the orchestra had commissioned.

Here’s how Schoenfield explains it: “The idea came to me in 1985 after sitting in one night for the pianist at Murray’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in Minneapolis. Murray’s employed a house trio which played entertaining dinner music in a wide variety of styles. My intention was to compose a kind of high-class dinner music — music which could be played at a restaurant but might also (just barely) find its way into a concert hall.” Much to Schoenfield’s surprise, Café Music did indeed become a concert hall hit.

Schoenfield said he had two lasting memories of that night he filled in at Murray’s: first, a realization of what hard work it was to play dinner music for hours on end, and second — in the days before smoke-free restaurants — how his clothes smelled of cigars and cigarettes for days afterwards!

Music Played in Today's Program

Paul Schoenfield (1947-2024): Café Music; Eroica Trio; EMI 56482