Some of us will argue that there’s no better way to spend a birthday than with friends, family, music and chocolate.  And 60^th birthday parties deserve special attention to all these things!  As my longtime and much-loved friend, Cindy Buhse, approached her 60^th birthday, I really wanted to see if I could bring them together in some way. 

My friendship with Cindy started in graduate school (chemistry) and deepened when we started working at the same company.  Both of us played instruments – flute for me; viola for Cindy – only sporadically early in our careers and families.  Cindy’s daughter, Emma, took up violin and viola, ultimately settling on viola as a primary instrument. 

Over the past 20 years or so, we’ve lived in separate states, and we’ve each carried on playing in local orchestras, and in my case at the Chamber Music Conference each summer.  We’ve only once played (duets) together.

As Cindy’s 60^th birthday party was planned (and delayed due to the pandemic), I was trying to figure out a way to play music with her and Emma.  The existing literature is somewhat silent for the combination of flute and 2 violas, so I turned to Jonathan Newmark, a friend from CMC, to commission a birthday trio.  Primarily focused now on composition, Jonathan is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, as well as a fierce chamber music player (piano, viola). 

Jonathan’s approach to the commission was a nice balance of client wishes and composer creativity.  He first spoke to me about what I was interested in, then talked with Cindy about her musical form preferences, as well as her viola technical preferences.  And then off he went for several months to compose. 

The result was remarkably fun trio with 5 movements – Introduction, Chorale, Waltz, Aria and Jig, Finale.  The birthday theme weaves through each movement, and the dance movements really do invite you to move!

We performed the trio at Cindy’s party last September to family and friends.  It was a delight to perform, and we’re told, a pleasure to listen to.  However, the rehearsal time we carved out coming to each other’s houses was even more precious.  I even managed to convert Cindy and Emma to ForScore!

Here’s a link to the Birthday Trio score:

Jonathan Newmark: Birthday Trio for flute and 2 violas (2021)

Oh, and the chocolate?  We enjoyed a lovely and absolutely decadent chocolate layer cake from a recipe made by generations of Buhse’s.  Birthday satisfaction complete!