From the descending motive that haunts the first movement to the giddy perpetual-motion finale, not to mention some great chords of almost Elgar-like lushness along the way, the score reveals the distinctive flair of this Baltimore-based composer. (The very last notes make for an overly conventional finish, but that's a minor disappointment.)

From Second Pres, it was a downright idyllic drive to St. John's in pastoral Glyndon for the season-opener of the Music in the Valley series.

Baltimore's Monument Piano Trio was joined by BSO concertmaster Jonathan Carney, here playing viola, and Florida-based violinist Aleksandr Zhuk. The program opened with the A major Piano Quintet by Dvorak and closed with the F minor Piano Quintet -- which is sort of like having filet mignon followed by roast beef.

(Speaking of food, I was disconcerted -- I've been disconcerted a lot lately in concert settings -- to see a buffet being laid out for post-concert noshing, in full view of the audience and at least some of the musicians while the Brahms was still being performed. I have only been to this church hall a couple of times, so I do not know if this is standard procedure, but I sure hope not. There has to be a way to avoid such distraction.)

I always enjoy hearing the Monument personnel --violinist Igor Yuzefovich, cellist Dariusz Skoraczewski, pianist Michael Sheppard -- and this was no exception. Their considerable individual talents came through vividly, as did those of the guest musicians, but this was all about fully integrated chamber music playing.

The Dvorak score was delivered with great color, rhythmic snap and poetic expression. In the darkly dramatic Brahms quintet, the group again produced tightly meshed articulation and phrasing and maintained a very effective tension from opening to close.