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I resumed rehearsal with my piano trio group “Monats-Trio” at home for the first time in a year after we began “stay-at-home” (due to COVID-19) in March 2020. The trio members are a Japanese violinist (myself), a German cellist whom I introduced last week in my blog, and a pianist, who is originally from Taiwan, had music education in Japan and the U.S., and is the only "professional" in the trio (as both the cellist and I are armatures).
We decided to resume Schubert's piano trio No. 1 D 898 op. 99, B flat major, which had been interrupted by the year-long "self-restraint life". It was an exciting moment to play together "in-person" and have produced a great volume with lots of enthusiasms.
Piano trio is one of my most preferred forms of ensemble. In general, unlike string quartets, which are mostly played by permanent members of the group, piano trios are often played by individual soloists. In many cases, it is a temporary formation of trio with varied personalities and backgrounds. In recent years, however, I started to notice groups of young musicians who are actively engaged in music activities by forming a piano trio. As an example, the recording I chose is by Eben Trio, a young piano trio group from the Czech Republic, formed in 2003. They are one of my favorite’s piano trio groups and its name “Eben” is derived from Czech composer Petr Eben (1929-2007). The group, which has been around for nearly 20 years, is performing and recording many difficult contemporary trios.
Violin and cello parts became as challenging as piano part in the early 19th century after Beethoven, so many trios play composers after Beethoven.
Schubert, Piano Trio No. 1 D 898 op. 99 in B flat major
Schubert wrote four piano trios but two are the most well played (No.1 op. 99 and No.2 op.100). Both are difficult pieces for amateurs, but extremely rewarding to play. No. 1 op. 99 was composed in 1827. Around the time op. 99 was composed, Schubert also composed "Winter Journey" and three piano sonatas (19, 20 and 21). Op. 99 was published in 1837 after Schubert's death in 1828.
Hopefully, we will host a concert next spring and perform op. 99. It is a rewarding music to play (with lots of fun).
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