Complete Piano Trios, Volume 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Urtext edition by Friedhelm Klugmann, with fingerings and markings by Hans-Martin Theopold. Published by Henle
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was the most influential and admired composer of the Romantic Era, and is considered today to be among the greatest composers of classical music to ever live. His music is known variously for its compositional rigor, sublime beauty, organic development, gripping urgency, and life-affirming, universal humanism. He left a significant mark on almost every classical genre he worked in, from string quartets to symphonies.
In the classical era, piano trios were considered fashionable, though lightweight. Thus, Beethoven followed in the footsteps of Haydn and Mozart and composed thirteen trios altogether. The works contained in this final volume of Henle's three-part collection almost all present a few peculiarities: opus 44 is also not a complete trio, for instance, but consists of only one single variation movement! WoO 37, written while Beethoven was still in Bonn, is striking for its scoring (piano, flute and bassoon). He wrote WoO 39 for Maximiliane, youngest daughter of the Brentano family, ''to encourage her piano playing.'' Op. 38 is an arrangement of the Septet op. 20 for piano, clarinet and violoncello, and the last piece has come down to us only in one sketchbook from Beethoven's Bonn period. None of these works has the weight of Beethoven's major piano trios; nevertheless, they remain witnesses to his supreme artistry. Includes parts (only) for piano, violin, and cello, as well as for clarinet, flute, and bassoon, as desired. Edited by Friedhelm Klugmann, with fingerings and markings by Hans-Martin Theopold. Advanced level, grade 5.
VOL. 3 INCLUDES:
Trio in E-flat Major, Op.44 (14 Variations)
- Trio in G Major, WoO 37 for Piano, Flute, and Bassoon
- Trio in E-flat Major, WoO 38
- Trio in B-flat Major, WoO 39
- Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 38 (for piano, clarinet [violin], and cello; arr. of Septet, Op.20)
- Trio in E-flat Major, Hess-Verz 48
