Piano Trio, Op. 11 (Beethoven)
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Piano Trio | |
---|---|
"Gassenhauer" | |
by Ludwig van Beethoven | |
Key | B-flat major |
Opus | 11 |
Composed | 1797 |
Dedication | Maria Wilhelmine von Thun |
Published | 1798 |
Duration | 18−20 minutes |
Movements | three |
Scoring |
|
The Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1797 and published in Vienna the next year. It is one of a series of early chamber works, many involving woodwind instruments because of their popularity and novelty at the time. The trio is scored for piano, clarinet (or violin), and cello (sometimes replaced by bassoon). The key of B-flat major was probably chosen to facilitate fast passages in the B-flat clarinet, which had not yet benefited from the development of modern key systems (such as the Albert system or Boehm system). Beethoven dedicated this piano trio to Countess Maria Wilhelmine von Thun.
The work is also sometimes known by the nickname "Gassenhauer Trio". This arose from its third
Because of its unique scoring in Beethoven's output, there is some uncertainty as to whether to include it in the ordinal numbering of Beethoven's piano trios. Some assign it "No. 4" between the Op. 1 and Op. 70 sets while others leave the work out of the numbering.
Structure
The trio is in three movements:
- Allegro con brio
- Adagio
- Tema con variazioni ("Pria ch'io l'impegno": Allegretto)
Typical performances of the work last between about 18 and 21 minutes.
References
Sources
- ISBN 0191592706.
- Mehta, Nuvi (2017). "Program Note: Trio for Clarinet, Cello & Piano in B-flat major, Op. 11" (PDF). San Diego Symphony.
- Schwartz, Steve (1996). "Review – Beethoven: Piano Trios "Archduke" & "Gassenhauer"". Classical.Net.
- Watson, Angus (2012). Beethoven's Chamber Music in Context. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-716-9.
External links
- Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Performance of Piano Trio, Op. 11 by the Eroica Trio from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format
- Clarinet/Piano Trio in B-flat major Op. 11 on YouTube, Camerata Pacifica