Beethoven - String Trio No. 3, Op. 9, No. 2 (1798)

Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical music repertoire, and span the transition from the classical period to the romantic era in classical music. His career has conventionally been divided into early, middle, and late periods. The "early" period, during which he forged his craft, is typically considered to have lasted until 1802. From 1802 to around 1812, his "middle" period showed an individual development from the "classical" styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is sometimes characterized as "heroic". During this time, he began to suffer increasingly from deafness. In his "late" period from 1812 to his death in 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression.
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String Trio No. 3 in D major, Op. 9, No. 2 (1798)
Dedicated to Countess Browne
1. Allegretto (0:00)
2. Andante quasi allegretto (8:07)
3. Menuetto - Allegro (12:56)
4. Presto (16:43)
Grumiaux Trio
Details by Robert Cummings:
The D major Trio opens with a theme (Allegretto) delivered quietly on the violin, but almost as if the first page had been ripped from the score, or at least as if the first few bars had been skipped. A second theme is then given by all the instruments, playing forte, maintaining the generally jovial mood of the music. It is almost as if this melody, delivered so emphatically by all the instrumentalists, is being presented as the work's real beginning. A third theme, of a more restrained character (marked dolce) but also somewhat playful, is presented to complete the exposition. The development section uses all three themes imaginatively and concludes with the cello playing in its highest reaches. At this point a subtly veiled account of the opening melody is given to launch the reprise. The movement closes with a jovial and colorful coda.
The second movement is marked Andante quasi allegretto and is rather playful, despite some slightly menacing pizzicato playing accompanying the main theme. A second melody appears and maintains the generally lighter character of the music. The material is reprised, though in different and imaginative ways, and there follows a coda.
A Menuetto marked Allegro follows. The two-part structure is not unusual but the movement as a whole seems rather Scherzo-ish, owing to the tempo marking and to the middle-section trio. The music is delightful in its lightness and thematic appeal, though some have found the trio both threadbare but effectively atmospheric in its lack of melodic material, its hazy dark rhythmic elements, and its mysterious pianissimo dynamics.
The finale is a Rondo marked Allegro. It is interesting that in the first Op. 9 Trio, the G major, Beethoven fashioned a Presto finale, his first that was not only not a Rondo, but a genuine sonata-allegro movement. The composer here returns to a form with which he had been quite successful and comfortable. The main theme of this movement is jovial, rather simple and, at the outset, where it is delivered three times in succession by the cello, somewhat bland. As the music proceeds, this theme takes on greater character from the viola harmonies and from development in exchanges among all the instruments. A second theme appears, more lyrical in character, after which the main material is reprised. There is further and quite brilliant thematic development, and the work closes with the violin intoning the happy opening theme.
All three of the Op. 9 Trios were first published in Vienna in 1798. The dedicatee of the them was one of Beethoven's leading patrons, the Russian Army Officer, Count Johann Georg von Browne. A typical performance of the D major Trio lasts around twenty-five minutes.

[@luizamsalgado]

Grumiaux recorded the whole set of the wonderful Beethoven String Trios, a historic recording. This recording shows well the Beethoven genius in composing String Trios (besides everything!). Here we have (too) that Very Very special, wonderful, beauty of tone of Grumiaux, not to mention Grumiaux unique elegance, (together with the other great musicians of Grumiaux Trio!). Many thanks for this wonderful upload !

[@jacc88888]

The Grumiaux Trio sounds so impressive in this - so much character and elegance in their interpretation, a sumptuous yet clean tone and also virtuosic. Haven't heard a better performance of this piece yet. Thanks for sharing and synchronising the score as well - very helpful.

[@thenathanpress4505]

yeah. what he said.

[@pilarserrano8470]

Maravilloso! Qué bien suenan estos Grumiaux. Beethoven brillante y genial, como siempre. Las piezas menos conocidas son las que más me gustan. Gracias.

[@kevinhutcheson1854]

Beautiful, delicate, yet powerful, exuberant, joyful, quintessential Beethoven! Thank you!

[@brucewilliams8864]

Thank you very much for sharing this upload with us!

[@andymitchell5128]

Absolutely marvellous!

[@sarahsssable]

Thank you

[@test-xe4cl]

Crazy...just crazy

[@WeThePpleForThePple]

All the string trios are impeccably performed....(although the 1st movement of the Op. 9 No. 2 was a bit too slow for my taste). That aside, it was awesomely well done.

[@dalmacietis]

Haha, "Trois Trios"

[@domins1959]

che gemme meravigliose e uniche....e dire che sono poco conosciute.....povero chi non le conosce.

[@luizamsalgado]

Addirittura !

[@2000bastien]

Lovely music! 4th. movement is rondo - allegro, not presto.

[@jacobnathanson9863]

HOLY CANNOLI

[@olivierdrouin2701]

Le final peut faire penser à la fois au final du quatuor 18 de Mozart et au final du 12 de Beethoven... (Je m empressé de dire que je n en connais aucun de Haydn )

[@lorenamzc]

10:20

[@JMILESN1]

You would never know it's not a string quartet!

[@olivierdrouin2701]

Beethoven se refusait il par éthique d originalité ces moments de suave et gracieuse liquéfaction qu affectionnait mozart , ou en était il incapable ? La question me semble transcender leurs cas particuliers.

[@konstantinlifschitz2105]

Not a Quartet, but a Trio

[@yararibeiro3379]

Thor