Piano Trios, Op. 1 (Beethoven) Explained

Piano Trios
Composer:	Ludwig van Beethoven
Opus:	1/1–3
Dedication:	Prince Lichnowsky

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

Despite the Op. 1 designation, these trios were not Beethoven's first published compositions;^[2] thisdistinction belongs rather to his Dressler Variations for keyboard (WoO 63). Clearly he recognized the Op. 1 compositions as the earliest ones he had produced that were substantial enough (and marketable enough) to fill out a first major publication to introduce his style of writing to the musical public.

No. 1 in E-flat major

1. Allegro (E-flat major),
2. Adagio cantabile (A-flat major),
3. Scherzo. Allegro assai (E-flat major, with trio in A-flat major),
4. Finale. Presto (E-flat major),

The first movement opens with an ascending arpeggiated figure (a so-called Mannheim Rocket, like that opening the first movement of the composer's own Piano Sonata no 1, Opus 2 no 1),^[3]

No. 2 in G major

1. Adagio, – Allegro vivace, (G major)
2. Largo con espressione (E major),
3. Scherzo. Allegro (G major, with a trio in B minor),
4. Finale. Presto (G major),

No. 3 in C minor

1. Allegro con brio (C minor),
2. Andante cantabile con Variazioni (E-flat major),
3. Minuetto. Quasi allegro (C minor, with a trio in C major),
4. Finale. Prestissimo (C minor, concluding in C major),

Unlike the other piano trios in this opus, the third trio does not have a scherzo as its third movement but a minuet instead.

This third piano trio was later reworked by Beethoven into the C minor string quintet, Op. 104.^[4]

External links

• • Performance of Piano Trio No. 1 by the Claremont Trio from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format

Notes and References

1. http://www.all-about-beethoven.com/trios.html "Beethoven's Trios for string instruments, wind instruments and for mixed ones"
2. Web site: Beethoven's first childhood composition is predictably incredible for a 12-year-old. 2021-05-13. Classic FM (UK).
3. Cummings, Robert. "Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2/1 (1793–1795)" in All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music, p. 106 (Chris Woodstra, Gerald Brennan, Allen Schrott eds., Hal Leonard Corporation, 2005).
4. http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/tw.asp?w=W12408 String Quintet in C minor, Op. 104.