Complete Piano Trios, Volume 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Urtext edition by Gunter Raphael, with fingerings and markings by Walter Lampe. 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. This second volume in Henle's three-part collection contains middle period works: the two Op.70 Piano Trios and the Trio op. 97, as well as the Variations on the song ''Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu'' op. 121a. The nickname ''Geistertrio'' (Ghost Trio) of the Trio op. 70 no. 1 was likely given to the piece by its publisher, no doubt because of the spooky, mysterious sound of the slow movement. The Trio op. 97 ''Archduke'' was named after its dedicatee Archduke Rudolph and is undisputedly Beethoven's most important composition of this kind. With a duration of over 45 minutes, it is also his longest piano trio. Edited by Gunter Raphael, with fingering and markings by Walter Lampe. Advanced level, with some master level material. Grades 5-6.
VOL. 2 INCLUDES:
- Trio in D Major, Op.70/1 ''Ghost''
- Trio in E-flat Major, Op.70/2
- Trio in B-flat Major, Op.97 ''Archduke''
- Trio in G major, Op.121a (Variations on the Song ''Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu'')
