Variously Blue was composed for the Verdehr Trio, who give the premiere performance of the piece on Sunday Feb. 7, 2010 at the above concert..  As I began sketching the piece, I happened to improvise a theme based on the 12-bar blues pattern, and thought it would be fun to try writing a set of variations based on that pattern.  Some of the sections sound specifically “bluesy”, but in general the piece uses the theme and its underlying harmonic pattern as a taking-off point for a varied range of moods and textures: lyrical, mysterious, playful, boisterous.  The particular combination of the Verdehr Trio—clarinet, violin and piano, with its wide variety of colors within a small group of players—also played a vital part in composing the piece.