Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
2018 McArthur Fellow. Matthew Aucoin is already a very successful composer at such a young age, finishing his first opera "From Sandover" at 20 years old. This is his piece in 3 movements for violin and piano "Its Own Accord".
Here's a snippet from the program notes that explains the title:
"If we say something happens "of its own accord," we mean it happens by itself, mysteriously, without our needing to intervene. Sadly it's not quite as easy as that to write music. The composer can't help but intervene, whether gently or fiercely. She or he must funnel and angle the music so that it pours, like molten metal, into the desired form. But when composing is going well, it feels as though the music takes shape "of its own accord." That word, "accord," has a number of resonant alternate meanings: it can mean harmony or agreement, both in a general sense and in the specific sense that a treaty may be called an "accord." I call my violin sonata Its Own Accord because the vast slow movement is so unlike anything I had written before (massive, patient, harmonically quite simple, where my music usually tends towards hyperactivity) and it took shape so suddenly (in a day or two, in Toronto in the fall of 2016), that it seemed to have happened — yep — of its own accord."
COMPOSER: Matthew Aucoin
VIOLIN: Keir GoGwilt
PIANO: Conor Hanick
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
3:20 - II.
16:38 - III.
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
2018 McArthur Fellow. Matthew Aucoin is already a very successful composer at such a young age, finishing his first opera "From Sandover" at 20 years old. This is his piece in 3 movements for violin and piano "Its Own Accord".
Here's a snippet from the program notes that explains the title:
"If we say something happens "of its own accord," we mean it happens by itself, mysteriously, without our needing to intervene. Sadly it's not quite as easy as that to write music. The composer can't help but intervene, whether gently or fiercely. She or he must funnel and angle the music so that it pours, like molten metal, into the desired form. But when composing is going well, it feels as though the music takes shape "of its own accord." That word, "accord," has a number of resonant alternate meanings: it can mean harmony or agreement, both in a general sense and in the specific sense that a treaty may be called an "accord." I call my violin sonata Its Own Accord because the vast slow movement is so unlike anything I had written before (massive, patient, harmonically quite simple, where my music usually tends towards hyperactivity) and it took shape so suddenly (in a day or two, in Toronto in the fall of 2016), that it seemed to have happened — yep — of its own accord."
COMPOSER: Matthew Aucoin
VIOLIN: Keir GoGwilt
PIANO: Conor Hanick
TRACKLIST:
0:00 - I.
3:20 - II.
16:38 - III.
Please be aware that all of the music (and images) featured in this video belong to their respective owners, and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. I upload these solely for archiving purposes, and for the sharing and enjoyment of great music. Monetization is not enabled. If you are the rightful owner of copyrighted material used and would like the video removed from YouTube, please, instead of reporting/striking my channel, leave a comment below with your statement and I will take the video down effective immediately.
