2nd piano trio (Mendelssohn)

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Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy composed his 2nd Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 ( MWV Q 33 ) in Frankfurt . The piano trio ( piano , violin and violoncello ), intended as a birthday present for his sister Fanny , was completed on April 30, 1845. It was premiered on December 20, 1845 in Leipzig and was published in 1846 with a dedication to Louis Spohr by Breitkopf & Härtel in press.

The work is in four movements and the performance lasts about 30 minutes.

The dramatic and powerful first movement ( Allegro energico e con fuoco , 4/4) follows the sonata form , with three themes being presented in the extended exposition . The second movement ( Andante espressivo , 9/8) is reminiscent of some of Mendelssohn's songs without words with its contrasting, gentle mood .

The Scherzo ( Molto Allegro quasi Presto , 2/4) is a rondo and conjures up a mood reminiscent of the elf ghost of the music for a midsummer night's dream. Mendelssohn's comment on his trio that it was "a little disgusting to play" may refer to this short but virtuoso movement.

The finale ( Allegro appassionato , 6/8) is of a cello theme with an unusual for Mendelssohn None jump started. The movement forms a three-themed rondo in which imitative and contrapuntal techniques emerge . The third theme is a freely composed chorale, which at the beginning alludes to the melody of Praise be to you, Jesus Christ (chorales also use Mendelssohn's 6 organ sonatas published under the preceding opus number 65 ).

literature

  • Hans Renner: Reclam's chamber music guide . Ph. Reclam jun., Stuttgart, 8th edition, 1976, pp. 414/415, ISBN 3-15-008001-0
  • R. Larry Todd: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. His life. His music . Carus-Verl. and Ph. Reclam jun., Stuttgart, 2008, pp. 542/543, ISBN 978-3-89948-098-6

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