Piano trio - Revision history

imported>Trumpetrep: /* The role of the three instruments */

2025-10-16T23:56:18Z

The role of the three instruments

← Previous revision		Revision as of 23:56, 16 October 2025
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	==Form==		==Form==

	Works titled "Piano Trio" tend to be in the same overall shape as a [[sonata (music)\|sonata]]. Initially this was in the three movement form, though some of Haydn's have two movements. [[Mozart]]~~, in five late works,~~ is generally credited with transforming the accompanied keyboard sonata, in which the essentially optional cello doubles the bass of the keyboard left hand, into the balanced trio which has since been a central form of chamber music. With the early 19th century, particularly [[Beethoven]], this genre was felt to be more appropriate to cast in the four movement form. Piano trios that are set in the [[History of sonata form\|Sonata tradition]] share the general concerns of such works for their era, and often are reflective directly of symphonic practice with individual movements laid out according to the composer's understanding of the [[sonata form]].		Works titled "Piano Trio" tend to be in the same overall shape as a [[sonata (music)\|sonata]]. Initially this was in the three movement form, though some of [[Joseph Haydn]]'s have two movements. In five late works, [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]] is generally credited with transforming the accompanied keyboard sonata, in which the essentially optional cello doubles the bass of the keyboard left hand, into the balanced trio which has since been a central form of chamber music. With the early 19th century, particularly [[Ludwig van Beethoven]], this genre was felt to be more appropriate to cast in the four movement form. Piano trios that are set in the [[History of sonata form\|Sonata tradition]] share the general concerns of such works for their era, and often are reflective directly of symphonic practice with individual movements laid out according to the composer's understanding of the [[sonata form]].

	In the [[Classical period (music)\|Classical era]], home music-making made the piano trio a very popular genre for arrangements of other works. For example, Beethoven transcribed his first two symphonies for piano trio. Thus a large number of works exist for the arrangement of piano, violin and violoncello which are not generally titled or numbered as piano trios, but which are nonetheless part of the overall genre. These include single movements as well as sets of variations such as Beethoven's Variations on '~~Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu~~' Op. 121a and Variations in E flat major Op. 44.		In the [[Classical period (music)\|Classical era]], home music-making made the piano trio a very popular genre for arrangements of other works. For example, Beethoven transcribed his first two symphonies for piano trio. Thus a large number of works exist for the arrangement of piano, violin and violoncello which are not generally titled or numbered as piano trios, but which are nonetheless part of the overall genre. These include single movements as well as sets of variations such as Beethoven's ''[[Kakadu Variations]]'' Op. 121a and ''[[Variations in E-flat major (Beethoven)\|Variations in E flat major Op. 44]]''.

	After the Classical era, works for piano and two instruments continue to be written which are not presented as in the sonata tradition, or are arrangements of other works. Many of these individual works are popular on concert programs, for example ~~Suk's Elegie.~~		After the Classical era, works for piano and two instruments continue to be written which are not presented as in the sonata tradition, or are arrangements of other works. Many of these individual works are popular on concert programs, for example [[Josef Suk (composer)\|Joseph Suk]]'s ''Elegy''.

	~~For individual articles treating works for piano trio, see~~ [[~~:Category:Compositions for piano trio~~]].

	==The role of the three instruments==		==The role of the three instruments==
			The piano trios of the Classical era are dominated by the piano part. The piano is so central in Haydn's trios that they are nicknamed "accompanied sonatas".<ref>Parakilas, James. ''Piano Roles: Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano''. [[Yale University Press]], 2008. 92.</ref> The violin plays the melody only a certain amount of the time, and when it does, is often doubled by the piano. The cello part is very much subordinated, usually just doubling the bass line in the piano. It is thought that this practice was related to the sonority of the instruments of Haydn's day: the piano was fairly weak and "tinkling" in tone, and benefited from the tonal strengthening of other instruments.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Rosen\|first1=Charles\|year=1997\|title=The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven\|url=https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose\|url-access=registration\|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose/page/353 353]\|chapter=VI.2\|publisher=Norton\|location=New York}}</ref> Mozart's [[List of compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart#Piano trios\|five late]] trios ([[Köchel catalogue\|K.]] [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Mozart)\|496]] etc.) are generally felt to mark the assured arrival of the form, attentive to balanced voices and three-part dialogue.

	The piano trios of the Classical era, notably those of [[Haydn]], are dominated by the piano part.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Wheelock\|first1=Gretchen\|year=1999\|page=115\|article=The classical repertory revisited: instruments, players, and styles (pp.109–131)\|title=Piano roles: Three hundred years of life with the piano\|editor=Parakilas, James\|location=New Haven, CT\|publisher=Yale University Press}}</ref> The violin plays the melody only a certain amount of the time, and when it does, is often doubled by the piano. The cello part is very much subordinated, usually just doubling the bass line in the piano. It is thought that this practice was related to the sonority of the instruments of Haydn's day: the piano was fairly weak and "tinkling" in tone, and benefited from the tonal strengthening of other instruments.<ref>{{cite book\|last1=Rosen\|first1=Charles\|year=1997\|title=The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven\|url=https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose\|url-access=registration\|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose/page/353 353]\|chapter=VI.2\|publisher=Norton\|location=New York}}</ref> Mozart's [[List of compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart#Piano trios\|five late]] ([[Köchel catalogue\|K.]] [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Mozart)\|496]] and later) trios are generally felt to mark the assured arrival of the form, attentive to balanced voices and three-part dialogue.		[[Beethoven]]'s trios continued the compositional objectives inaugurated by Mozart. The new idea of equality was never implemented completely; the extent to which it is realized varies from one composition to the next, as well as among movements within a single composition.

	[[Beethoven]]'s trios continued the compositional objectives inaugurated by Mozart. The new idea of equality was never implemented completely; the extent to which it is realized varies from one composition to the next, as well as among movements within a single composition~~. Certainly, by the mid-nineteenth century, all three instruments had been modified to have a very powerful sound,{{cn\|date=January 2022}} and each can hold its own in a modern ensemble~~.

	~~The earlier trios are now frequently performed and recorded using~~ [[~~authentic~~ performance\|~~authentic instruments~~]], of ~~the kind for which they were originally written. Such performances restore the sonic balance the composer would have expected, and have proven popular~~.		[[Historically informed performance\|Authentic performance]]s of earlier trios are now done on period instruments.

	==Other combinations==		==Other combinations==
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	*Trios with clarinet include masterpieces such as Mozart's ''[[Kegelstatt Trio]]'' and works by Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók; many more works are listed in [[Clarinet-violin-piano trio]], [[Clarinet-viola-piano trio]] and [[Clarinet-cello-piano trio]].		*Trios with clarinet include masterpieces such as Mozart's ''[[Kegelstatt Trio]]'' and works by Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók; many more works are listed in [[Clarinet-violin-piano trio]], [[Clarinet-viola-piano trio]] and [[Clarinet-cello-piano trio]].
	*[[Ignaz Lachner]] wrote all of his six piano trios for violin, viola and piano.		*[[Ignaz Lachner]] wrote all of his six piano trios for violin, viola and piano.
			*The Indonesian composer [[Ananda Sukarlan]] has written several trios with piano of rare combinations, such as ''Menage a Trois'' for flute, viola and piano, ''Mutahariana'' for clarinet, french horn and piano, ''Communication Breakdown'' for flute, bassoon and piano or ''Frida's Monkeys'' for oboe, violin and piano.
	*The jazz trio formation of saxophone, piano and percussion has been taken up as an alternative "piano trio" in the field of [[contemporary classical music]], initially by [[Trio Accanto]] who since 1994 have commissioned more than 100 works for this combination. Several other trios have been formed to perform this repertoire.		*The jazz trio formation of saxophone, piano and percussion has been taken up as an alternative "piano trio" in the field of [[contemporary classical music]], initially by [[Trio Accanto]] who since 1994 have commissioned more than 100 works for this combination. Several other trios have been formed to perform this repertoire.

imported>Graham87: I don't think that's quite notable enough

2024-08-24T03:33:50Z

I don't think that's quite notable enough

New page

{{Short description|Musical group of piano and two other instruments}}
A '''piano trio''' is a group of [[piano]] and two other instruments, usually a [[violin]] and a [[cello]], or a piece of [[music]] written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in [[European classical music|classical]] [[chamber music]]. The term can also refer to a group of musicians who regularly play this repertoire together; for a number of well-known piano trios, see below.

The term "piano trio" is also used for [[jazz trio]]s, where it most commonly designates a pianist accompanied by bass and drums, though guitar or saxophone may figure as well.

==Form==

Works titled "Piano Trio" tend to be in the same overall shape as a [[sonata (music)|sonata]]. Initially this was in the three movement form, though some of Haydn's have two movements. [[Mozart]], in five late works, is generally credited with transforming the accompanied keyboard sonata, in which the essentially optional cello doubles the bass of the keyboard left hand, into the balanced trio which has since been a central form of chamber music. With the early 19th century, particularly [[Beethoven]], this genre was felt to be more appropriate to cast in the four movement form. Piano trios that are set in the [[History of sonata form|Sonata tradition]] share the general concerns of such works for their era, and often are reflective directly of symphonic practice with individual movements laid out according to the composer's understanding of the [[sonata form]].

In the [[Classical period (music)|Classical era]], home music-making made the piano trio a very popular genre for arrangements of other works. For example, Beethoven transcribed his first two symphonies for piano trio. Thus a large number of works exist for the arrangement of piano, violin and violoncello which are not generally titled or numbered as piano trios, but which are nonetheless part of the overall genre. These include single movements as well as sets of variations such as Beethoven's Variations on 'Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu' Op. 121a and Variations in E flat major Op. 44.

After the Classical era, works for piano and two instruments continue to be written which are not presented as in the sonata tradition, or are arrangements of other works. Many of these individual works are popular on concert programs, for example Suk's Elegie.

For individual articles treating works for piano trio, see [[:Category:Compositions for piano trio]].

==The role of the three instruments==

The piano trios of the Classical era, notably those of [[Haydn]], are dominated by the piano part.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wheelock|first1=Gretchen|year=1999|page=115|article=The classical repertory revisited: instruments, players, and styles (pp.109–131)|title=Piano roles: Three hundred years of life with the piano|editor=Parakilas, James|location=New Haven, CT|publisher=Yale University Press}}</ref> The violin plays the melody only a certain amount of the time, and when it does, is often doubled by the piano. The cello part is very much subordinated, usually just doubling the bass line in the piano. It is thought that this practice was related to the sonority of the instruments of Haydn's day: the piano was fairly weak and "tinkling" in tone, and benefited from the tonal strengthening of other instruments.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rosen|first1=Charles|year=1997|title=The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven|url=https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/classicalstyleha00rose/page/353 353]|chapter=VI.2|publisher=Norton|location=New York}}</ref> Mozart's [[List of compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart#Piano trios|five late]] ([[Köchel catalogue|K.]] [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Mozart)|496]] and later) trios are generally felt to mark the assured arrival of the form, attentive to balanced voices and three-part dialogue.

[[Beethoven]]'s trios continued the compositional objectives inaugurated by Mozart. The new idea of equality was never implemented completely; the extent to which it is realized varies from one composition to the next, as well as among movements within a single composition. Certainly, by the mid-nineteenth century, all three instruments had been modified to have a very powerful sound,{{cn|date=January 2022}} and each can hold its own in a modern ensemble.

The earlier trios are now frequently performed and recorded using [[authentic performance|authentic instruments]], of the kind for which they were originally written. Such performances restore the sonic balance the composer would have expected, and have proven popular.

==Other combinations==
Some rather rare combinations of instruments have nonetheless inspired a few outstanding works.

*Haydn wrote three trios for flute, cello and piano ([[Hoboken catalog|H.]] 15/15-17), a combination for which [[Carl Maria von Weber]] also wrote [[Trio for Piano, Flute and Cello (Weber)|one work (op. 63)]].
*Beethoven wrote his [[Trio for Piano, Flute and Bassoon (Beethoven)|Trio in G major, WoO 37]] (1786) for flute, bassoon and piano.
*[[Mikhail Glinka]] wrote his ''Trio pathétique'' in D minor for clarinet, bassoon and piano, although is also performed with a violin or cello substituting the clarinet or the bassoon, respectively.
*[[Francis Poulenc]]'s [[Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano]] op. 43 (1926).
*The [[horn trio#Horn, violin and piano|Horn-violin-piano trio]] is exemplified by Brahms' [[Horn Trio (Brahms)|Trio Op. 40 in E flat]] and [[György Ligeti]]'s 1982 [[Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano (Ligeti)|Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano]].
*Trios with clarinet include masterpieces such as Mozart's ''[[Kegelstatt Trio]]'' and works by Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók; many more works are listed in [[Clarinet-violin-piano trio]], [[Clarinet-viola-piano trio]] and [[Clarinet-cello-piano trio]].
*[[Ignaz Lachner]] wrote all of his six piano trios for violin, viola and piano.
*The jazz trio formation of saxophone, piano and percussion has been taken up as an alternative "piano trio" in the field of [[contemporary classical music]], initially by [[Trio Accanto]] who since 1994 have commissioned more than 100 works for this combination. Several other trios have been formed to perform this repertoire.

==Example piano trios, extant and defunct==
[[File:Istomin-Stern-Rose Trio 1961.jpg|thumb|Istomin-Stern-Rose Trio playing at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] theatre, 1961]]
Among the best known of such groups are or have been:

*[[Altenberg Trio]] (Austria)
*[[Amatis Trio]] (the Netherlands)
*{{interlanguage link|ATOS Trio|de|ATOS-Trio}} (Berlin, Germany)
*[[Maria Baptist]] [jazz] Trio (Berlin, Germany)
*[[Istomin-Stern-Rose Trio]], consisting of [[Eugene Istomin]], [[Isaac Stern]] and [[Leonard Rose]]. (United States)
*One consisting of [[Alfred Cortot]], [[Jacques Thibaud]] and [[Pablo Casals]], earlier in the 20th century
*The Spivakovsky Trio, consisting of [[Jascha Spivakovsky]], [[Tossy Spivakovsky]] and [[Edmund Kurtz]], earlier in the 20th century
* The [[Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio]] (United States)
*The [[Beaux Arts Trio]] (United States), whose commitment to using the same players in every concert pioneered a new generation of similarly committed groups; defunct
*The [[Sitkovetsky Trio]] (United Kingdom) consisting of [[Alexander Sitkovetsky]], [[Wu Qian (pianist)|Wu Qian]] and [[Isang Enders]]
*[[Trio di Trieste]] (Italy) consisting of [[Dario De Rosa]], [[Renato Zanettovich]], and [[Libero Lana]]/[[Amedeo Baldovino]]; defunct
*The "Ax-Kim-Ma" trio, consisting of [[Emanuel Ax]], [[Young-Uck Kim]], and [[Yo-Yo Ma]] (United States)
*[[Eroica Trio]] (United States)
*[[Ahn Trio]] (United States/Korea)
*The [[Borodin Trio]] (United States)
*[[Trio Fontenay]] (Germany)
*[[Trio Céleste]] (United States), consisting of [[Kevin Kwan Loucks]], Iryna Krechkovsky, and Ross Gasworth
*[[Suk Trio]] (Czech Republic)
*The [[Florestan Trio]] (United Kingdom)
*[[The Greenwich Trio]] (United Kingdom)
*The [[Gryphon Trio]] (Canada)
*The [[Oberlin Trio]] (United States)
*The [[Alma Trio]] (United States)
*[[Trio Vega]] (Spain)
*[[Trio Kandinsky]] (United States)
*[[Trio Wanderer]] (France)
*[[Haydn Trio Eisenstadt]] (Austria): [[Harald Kosik]], [[Hannes Gradwohl]], [[Bernd Gradwohl]]/[[Verena Stourzh]].
*[[Bamberg Trio]] (Germany)
*Petrof Piano Trio (Czech Republic)
*[[Manhattan Piano Trio]] (United States)
*[[Spirale Piano Trio]] (Belgium)
*[[Xonor Trio]] (United States)
*[[Vanic Trio]] (United States)
*[[Vienna Piano Trio]] (Austria)
*[[Stuttgart Piano Trio]] (German)<ref>[http://classicalmusicianstoza.blogspot.ca/2014/06/stuttgart-piano-trio.html Foto: touring Southern Africa]</ref>
*[[The Dutch Trio]] (Germany/The Netherlands)

==Famous works for piano trio==

{{See also|Piano trio repertoire}}
*[[Anton Arensky]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 1 (Arensky)|Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor]]
*[[Ludwig van Beethoven]]'s trios, especially [[Piano Trio No. 7 (Beethoven)|Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat major "Archduke", Op. 97]]
*[[Johannes Brahms]]'s Piano Trios [[Piano Trio No. 1 (Brahms)|No. 1 in B major, Op. 8]], [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Brahms)|No. 2 in C major, Op. 87]] and [[Piano Trio No. 3 (Brahms)|No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101]]
*[[Elliott Carter]]'s Epigrams (2012)
*[[Frédéric Chopin]]'s [[Piano Trio (Chopin)|Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8]]
*[[Antonín Dvořák]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 4 (Dvořák)|Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor ("Dumky"), Op. 90]]
*[[Gabriel Fauré]]'s piano trio, Op. 120
*[[Joseph Haydn]]'s [[list of piano trios by Joseph Haydn|45 piano trios]], particularly those composed from the mid-1780s onwards
*[[Charles Ives]]'s [[Piano Trio (Ives)|Piano Trio]], 1911
*[[Franz Liszt]]'s Hungarian Rhapsodies [[Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9|No. 9]] and [[Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12|No. 12]]
*[[Felix Mendelssohn]]'s two piano trios
*[[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]'s piano trios, particularly No. [[Piano Trio No. 3 (Mozart)|3]], [[Piano Trio No. 4 (Mozart)|4]] and [[Piano Trio No. 5 (Mozart)|5]]
*[[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]'s [[Trio élégiaque No. 1 (Rachmaninoff)|Elegiac Trios No. 1 in G minor]] and [[Trio élégiaque No. 2 (Rachmaninoff)|No. 2 in D minor]]
*[[Maurice Ravel]]'s [[Piano Trio (Ravel)|Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello]]
*[[Camille Saint-Saëns]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 1 (Saint-Saëns)|Piano Trio No. 1]] and [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Saint-Saëns)|Piano Trio No. 2]]
*[[Franz Schubert]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 1 (Schubert)|Piano Trio No. 1]] and [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Schubert)|No. 2]]
*[[Clara Schumann]]'s [[Piano Trio (Clara Schumann)|Piano Trio]]
*[[Robert Schumann]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 1 (Schumann)|Piano Trio No. 1]] in D minor and [[Piano Trio No. 3 (Schumann)|Piano Trio No. 3]] in G minor
*[[Dmitri Shostakovich]]'s [[Piano Trio No. 2 (Shostakovich)|Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor]]
*[[Bedřich Smetana]]'s Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello
*[[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]'s [[Piano Trio (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Trio in A minor]], Op. 50

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Piano six hands]]
* [[Violin]]
* [[Violoncello]]
* [[Piano trio repertoire]]
* [[Triple concerto for violin, cello, and piano]]
* [[Clarinet–violin–piano trio]]
* [[Clarinet–viola–piano trio]]
* [[Clarinet–cello–piano trio]]
* [[Oboe–bassoon–piano trio]]
* [[Piano quartet]]
* [[Piano quintet]]
* [[Piano sextet]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Musical ensembles}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Piano Trio}}
[[Category:Piano]]
[[Category:Compositions for piano trio| ]]
[[Category:Chamber music]]
[[Category:Types of musical groups]]
[[Category:Violins]]
[[Category:Musical trios|*Piano]]
[[Category:Classical music trios| ]]