Day 219: Piano Trios I

BeethovenCD24Beautiful music.

Which is precisely what I need at the moment.

After two trips to the ER at our local hospitals in about as many weeks, I’m ready for something beautiful.

Beethoven is just what the doctor ordered.

Compositions on today’s CD are:

Piano Trio in G Op. 1 No. 2

From its entry on Wikipedia, we learn,

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Opus 1 is a set of three piano trios (written for piano, violin, and violoncello), first performed in 1793 in the house of Prince Lichnowsky, to whom they are dedicated. The trios were published in 1795.

Despite the Op. 1 designation these were not Beethoven’s first published compositions; this distinction belongs to his Dressler Variations for keyboard (WoO 63).

This trio is lively and expansive. Lots of opportunity for the pianist to showcase his dexterity.

Beethoven was 23 when this trio was first performed.

Piano Trio in D Op. 70 No. 1 “Ghost”

Of this composition, its entry on Wikipedia tells us,

Opus 70 is a set of two Piano Trios by Ludwig van Beethoven, written for piano, violin, and cello. Both trios were composed during Beethoven’s stay at Countess Marie von Erdödy’s estate, and both are dedicated to her for her hospitality. They were published in 1809.

The first, in D major, known as the Ghost, is one of his best known works in the genre (rivaled only by the Archduke Trio). The D major trio features themes found in the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2. The All-Music Guide states that “because of its strangely scored and undeniably eerie-sounding slow movement, it was dubbed the “Ghost” Trio. The name has stuck with the work ever since. The ghostly music may have had its roots in sketches for a Macbeth opera that Beethoven was contemplating at the time.”

Movement I (“Allegro vivace”) begins in a manner totally un-ghost like: Boisterous and loud.

It’s in Movement II (“Largo assai ed espressivo”) that I can hear this composition’s nickname. But it’s not as ghostly as it is lonely and ethereal. It’s certainly a poignant piece of music.

Movement III (“Presto”) returns to vim and vigor, all shades of ghost evaporated like morning mist.

Piano Trio in E Flat Wo038

This composition is another showcase for the pianist, who’s actually a young guy not quite 30 when this was recorded.

Movement III (“Rondo: Allegretto” gives the violinist room to shine. But this is another piece that gives the pianist center stage. It is the pianist who sets the tone for this composition.

And he’s very good.

Performers on today’s CD are:

Trio Elegiaque
Laurent Le Flecher violin
Virginie Constant cello
Francois Dumont piano

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