Inspired by existing pieces for
violin-
clarinet-
piano trio by 20th-century composers
Bartók (
Contrasts (Bartók)),
Stravinsky,
Milhaud,
Khachaturian,
Berg,
Krenek,
Poulenc and
Ives, the trio commissioned over 200 new works. To round out their repertoire they discovered or transcribed 18th and 19th century pieces for violin-clarinet-piano. The trio also commissioned trio concertos from composers including Buhr, David,
Ott,
Skrowaczewski, and Wallace. They commissioned violin-clarinet double concertos from
James Niblock,
William Wallace,
Dinos Constantinides,
Paul Chihara,
Ian Krouse and
Richard Mills. To make this music available the trio released
The Making of a Medium CD Series on
Crystal Records and a parallel
Video Series including performances, interviews and discussions by the composers as well as a complete performance of the work. Series I includes composers
Leslie Bassett,
Alan Hovhaness,
Karel Husa,
Thea Musgrave (
Pierrot),
Ned Rorem, and
Gunther Schuller. Series II, hosted by
Peter Schickele, includes trios by
Alexander Arutiunian,
David Diamond,
William Bolcom,
Betsy Jolas,
Libby Larsen,
Philippe Manoury,
Gian Carlo Menotti,
Peter Sculthorpe, Peter Schickele and
Joan Tower. A publishing project was also launched. ==Accomplishments==