Shadows in the Gilded Hall

[Instrumental]

Minor-key chamber piece, 1812 drawing-room drama. Silver-bright pianoforte arpeggios dance over a restless cello ostinato; violins and viola trade furtive, chromatic motifs with sudden dynamic swells. Flute enters like a whispered rumor, doubling and then twisting the strings’ themes. Tension builds through sequences and suspensions, then releases into a poised, bittersweet cadence, ending in a soft, unresolved question., cello, string quartet