Felix Mendelssohn - Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor

- Composer: Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 -- 4 November 1847)
- Performers: Trio Wanderer
- Year of recording: 2006
Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 (for piano, violin, and cello) written in 1845.
00:00 - I. Allegro energico e con fuoco
09:35 - II. Andante espressivo
16:03 - III. Scherzo: Molto allegro quasi presto
19:28 - IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato
The Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66, is invariably compared to its older sibling, the Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49, written six years earlier. The later work is more complex, employing themes that are less song-like and more amenable to intense development. Also, the Trio in C minor is a more detailed work that rewards repeated listening. Mendelssohn dedicated the Piano Trio in C minor to Louis Spohr (1784-1859), who played through the piece with the composer at least once.
- Marked Allegro energico e fuoco, the first movement begins with a segmented theme consisting of rising and falling arpeggios and scales. Its generic components make the theme very flexible and well suited to sonata form and to contrapuntal elaboration, which occurs frequently in the movement. The secondary theme is much more broad than the first and makes an important appearance in the coda. Harmonically, the Allegro is subdued and dark, with Mendelssohn progressing from C minor through G flat major, C flat major, and A flat minor, with occasional returns to C minor to remind us of the primary key.
- Mendelssohn cast the second movement, Andante espressivo, in the relative major, E flat. Its subdued main theme, played first in block chords in the piano, sets the tone for the whole movement.
- The G minor Scherzo resembles that of Mendelssohn's Octet, Op. 20, but is less refined. Formally, it is unusual. The Scherzo, a frenetic, although quiet, bundle of energy in G minor, gives way to a lyrical Trio in G major. After the Trio has run its course, a significantly shortened reprise of the Trio forms a link to the return of the Scherzo, which is itself abbreviated.
- C minor reappears at the beginning of the Finale, marked Allegro appassionato and in 6/8 meter [Brahms would later quote the main theme in the Scherzo of his Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 5, uploaded on this channel]. The short, modular theme, first stated in the cello, lends itself to Beethovenian development. In the midst of the development section, Mendelssohn inserts the theme of a chorale, "Vor deinen Thron," presented almost literally and mingled with statements of the first theme. Mendelssohn was perhaps following the example of Beethoven, who uses a chorale in his Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 2, No. 3, to impart a sense of profundity. In the case of Mendelssohn, we are left to ponder the reason for this incongruous addition. When this chorale tune returns in the coda, it is given massive, symphonic treatment and is completely detached from the first theme.

[@leoinsf]

I started my piano career by playing Mendelssohn's 1st Piano Concerto. I soon learned that Mendelssohn writes brilliantly for piano and his piano trios have a "piano concerto" consistency to them. His themes are monumental and his ability to write brilliantly for different instruments make you realize that he is up there with Beethoven and Brahms. Of course, Beethoven and Brahms are in a "heaven" of their own, but Felix and Robert Schumann were close seconds in the music universe. The proof of the pudding is to hear Felix and Robert's compositions and you soon learn that it is all about inspiration and they were as inspired as Beethoven and Brahms.

[@erika6651]

I would never put Brahms ahead of Schumann. German music had become much more interesting by the second half of the 19th Century. Wagner and Bruckner are much more complex and interesting than Brahms, who like Mendelssohn, matured too early and never grew much past his youthful efforts.

[@catherinejones9396]

@@erika6651 Ya reckon?

[@guntax59]

​@@erika6651I would never put the anxiety and pompous confusion of the late 19th c above the pristine and seeming simplicity of Mendelssohn. There's no bragging or egomaniacal exaggeration like what followed. It's extremely hard to make his music justice as it's so extremely dependent on tempi, of phrasing and breathing! Playing Mendelssohn with Wagnerian esthetics is desecrating holy grounds.

[@penpow]

Simply two distinct eras of the Germanic romantic, with distinctly different types of historical and compositional outputs. ​@@guntax59

[@drc4168]

I love Felix best!!

[@antoineroche2073]

9:00 Such an intense chord.

[@benyanman]

8:02 - 9:02 is the most epic minute in all piano trio works.

[@eunsungkwon485]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

[@mirceachiriac3610]

Holy Saint Mary Jesus wow! So epic

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

Honestly everything from 8:02 to the end of the mvt is an absolute head-banger

[@marco119w7]

24:26 onwards is one of the best "symphonic" climaxes Mendelssohn has ever wrote. Just a stunning ocean of sound and grandeur captured with only three instruments.

[@calebhu6383]

It contains a lot of Protestant hymnal elements

[@ClassicMusicVidsUSA]

Maybe the finale is indeed fast, but it still falls in line with the whole performance of this masterwork. The piece is lyrical and dynamic. If you wanted to introduce someone to Romantic music, this would be a good one. The themes are all carried adequately so that they are developed, but the listener does not grow tired of it.

[@brianbernstein3826]

Masterpiece. Mendelssohn is so under rated

[@millermark445]

Yes, he is underrated. Understandable since he lives in the shadow of those Germanic heavyweights - Bach, Brahms, Beethoven and Mozart.

[@brianbernstein3826]

@@millermark445 helps to have the Catholic Church at your back! makes a huge difference historically at that time, clearly...

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

He is not underrated. He is a respected composer.

[@majdabdulaziz714]

​@@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtrackssays the one with mozart profile picture

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

So what?@@majdabdulaziz714

[@tuberobotto]

Very fine composition, architecturally and musically sound, always filled with that Mendelssohnian energy and inter-player dynamics. Mendelssohn never fails to capture my attention. Thank you for sharing such a seldomly heard gem.

[@baroquegeek]

This second movement is probably one of the most beautiful I have heard from any romantic composer. It is so bloody beautiful that words are lost on me.

[@TomTom53421]

baroquegeek have you heard the second movement of the first trio? I guarantee you’ll be equally amazed.

[@midnightmusic1087]

Same

[@mvcm1688]

@@TomTom53421 actually more amazed, the sec mov of the first trio is.

[@sepandghanouni2271]

just one thing to say: thank you for posting this video.

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Sepand Ghanouni Thank you for your comment :)

[@PuddintameXYZ]

This piece, while already great, sounds really, really epic when you turn the volume up, especially the first movement. The parts from 6:29-7:35 & 8:15-9:30 in particular are just fantastic. Such a beautiful, fiery piece of music with great performance.

[@davidrehak3539]

Felix Mendelssohn:2.c-moll Zongoratrió Op.66 1.Allegro energico e con fuoco 00:05 2.Andante espressivo 09:35 3.Scherzo:Molto allegro quasi presto 16:03 4.Finálé:Allegro appasionato 19:28 Wanderer trió

[@tuberobotto]

Thank you for giving credit where it is due. We love and enjoy the music and it's due to the amazing performance but oftentimes we neglect to be informed WHO plays. Thank you for these details.

[@aarondrayer548]

Mendelssohn 2nd movements are subliminal. EVERY 2nd movement is magnificent and ear-worming, he writes the best 2nd movements.

[@marichristian1072]

Magnificent work, sensitively played. Thank you for the notes. They truly help to put the work into context.

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Mari Christian That's great to hear, glad I could help :)

[@eunsungkwon485]

I wish Mendelssohn composed the 1st movement in 2/2

[@rarebirddreams400]

Thank you so much. The synchronisation of music and melody lines gave me a more profound grasp of this wonderful composition.

[@KamranOmarliViolin]

What a masterpiece! I fall in love with that Trio... Can’t wait to play it! Thank you for posting!

[@eunsungkwon485]

I like 1st, 3rd and 4th movement (finale). I do NOT like the 2nd movement. Simply speaking, 2nd Movt. is not my style.

[@fdggothic5015]

The part from 7:40-8:18 is worthy of tears.

[@rvaughanwilliams1988]

Yes!

[@eunsungkwon485]

Is it sadness, rage, or a combination of both?

[@guitarviolincovers2606]

I have played this wonderful work years ago and I am going to perform it again . This is really brilliant composition! Love Mendelssohn so much🌟❤️ Thanks for uploading ✊🏻

[@aegeanbo]

Thank you for the program note. It is very helpful!

[@olla-vogala4090]

+aegeanbo That's great to hear!

[@johnsalacan23]

What a wonderful performance!

[@memeguy6059]

One of the greatest compositions Mendelssohn ever wrote.

[@snowcarriagechengcheng-hun3454]

Thanks for uploading!

[@Mazurking]

God I love Mendelssohn, he is singlehandedly getting me into chamber music.

[@stavenbyrne8010]

2/2 feel, minor key, fast, LOUD. Perfect. Except I hate the damned advertisement.

[@harryandruschak2843]

Having just listened to your upload of #1, I decided to listen to #2 :)

[@laurajeangoldberg8573]

beautiful!

[@marichristian1072]

I must say that these are three very fine musicians. Excellent choice of recording, olla-vogala. Thank you.

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Mari Christian Thank you very much Mari :)

[@Schtofenbach]

they are amazing ones...Indeed. Have you hear dthe trio no 100 of schubert by them?

[@4ofdubs]

So I CAN use that for my OWN VIDEOS!

[@generalgonzales8139]

Mendelssohn is so great

[@jonasschonus4679]

I had to grin at the beginning of the Finale! Brahms quoting this in the beloved F minor Sonata Op.5! :) Trio Wanderer is always a guarantee for outstanding performances! Do you know the recordings of the two Schubert Trios? A Sheet Video would close a gap on KZbin! Anyway thanks for work! Best wishes from Germany!

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Jonas Schonus Unfortunately I just received a strike from KZbin, so for half a year I can only upload pieces up to 15mins... After that period, I will upload them!

[@musikfan2450]

Wunderbar!

[@robertcohn8858]

It's hard to believe fingers can move that fast! An exciting performance. Would have been nice to see individual artist attributions.

[@robertomingarini7635]

Fantastico

[@karpabla]

When the pianist is the trio's member who needs glases. I am joking. Thanks for the video (music score)!

[@thelonearchitect]

23:15, the reason I love Mendelssohn

[@vaclavmiller8032]

God I love flashy diminished 7th arpeggios (huh???) - 24:04 to the end is why I love Mendelssohn.

[@pianosbloxworld4460]

@@vaclavmiller8032 no big fan of them but if they are well written that’s all right

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

Great piece!

[@nedhopkins897]

"A notable feature of the finale of this work is its use of the melody of a chorale taken from the sixteenth-century Genevan psalter, "Herr Gott Dich Loben Wir, " as the culminating melody. The tune is known in English as Old Hundredth from its association with the 100th Psalm and is commonly sung to the lyrics "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." Bach used the chorale as the basis for Cantata 130, BWV 130, also known as "Herr Gott Dich Loben Wir," as the theme in the contrapuntal first movement and as the unadorned chorale in the last. The chorale in the finale of the piano trio has occasionally and erroneously been identified as Vor Deinen Tron. . . ." The chorale theme is also known as the Doxology.

[@Gailrstarr]

Ned Hopkins thank you so much for this info!

[@dequansmithmcconvey1753]

Mendelssohn was in love Bach and love to add bits of Bachs Baroque style into his pieces!

[@HeelPower200]

@@jbondy6395 Or maybe Mendelssohn just composed on original chorale ? what a concept! 😜

[@pshgo83]

와! 21:56 찬송가 1장이 떠올라서 궁금했던 부분인데 알려주셔서 정말 감사합니다!

[@antoineroche2073]

I think that the same choral has been used as an inspiration by Chopin in his Scherzo n°3.

[@mohammedpasha1715]

This is unequivocally Mendelssohn's best work.

[@TimondeNood]

Thanks!! :D

[@elainebmack]

I can't believe how exciting this piece is! I first heard it many years ago performed by a trio comprised of musicians from a major symphony orchestra. The performance was incredibly boring and perfunctory. This performance is another story altogether!

[@bennyboost]

Possibly because these guys do it at the proper tempo. so many others do it so slow and it just drags on...

[@jimp4170]

Don't ever go hear chamber music played by orchestra musicians. Doesn't matter how well they play, you'll be disappointed.

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

love 13:24 between the violin and cello

[@zinam5795]

....Thanks very much! ... More difficult,then 1-th Trio ,but brilliantly & geniality... In final part- the ehko of F.Chopin's Scerzo

[@jesusfernandez7236]

2:59 - 3:35 I love this part :v

[@sebastian9445]

Same lol

[@stavenbyrne8010]

Alright, I get a glimpse of trio sonata. Sometimes the main instruments are in unison. Other times they follow the same rhythm. To avoid boredom they may move in opposite direction (counter-movement?) However usually they have suspended notes. The finale often sounds like fugue (violoncello and violin part).

[@franzeybler1499]

14:58 that Eb!!!!!

[@sebastian9445]

24:29… how did the pianist play that low big f*cking tremolo ._. Just amazing pianist

[@HarryTchong]

I love the first movement. Surprisingly I don't really like the other parts. Thanks for posting this piece.

[@zeynepbaydar2728]

True German Hero

[@catherinejones9396]

this trio was less familiar than the 1st for me. It was well performed here by this group- it would be nice to know which artists were in said group. thank you for the downloads

[@pierrelandy9755]

Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian (violin), Raphaël Pidoux (cello), Vincent Coq (piano)

[@catherinejones9396]

@@pierrelandy9755Thank you.

[@PuddintameXYZ]

Anybody recommend other pieces like this? This is one of my favorites, from the fiery passion of the 1st mvt, to the climactic 4th, I'd love to hear some more like it.

[@brandonchan5498]

I would thoroughly recommend Arensky's Piano Trio if you have not come across it; hope you enjoy it.

[@PuddintameXYZ]

@@brandonchan5498 Thanks! Will do

[@mauricemusician7636]

Mendelssohn's 1st trio & Rachmaninoff's 1st Trio Elegiac for the death of Tchaikovsky.

[@fedegwagwa]

Alexander Fesca's Piano Septets, Napoleon Henri Reber's 3rd, 4th and 5th Piano Trio, Mendelssohn's Piano Trio n. 1 is just as great

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

3:20 my favorite part lol

[@marco119w7]

19:17 reminds me of the rondo from Beethoven's sonata op.31 no.1

[@Carolyn12344]

In the last movement, does he borrow from the Doxology tune?

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Carolyn Engerman I think it does quote 'Vor deinen Thron' in the last movement, not sure about the Doxology tune.

[@martinweiss3054]

Same melody- “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”

[@HugoFernandezLanguasco]

Mendelsohniano en toda su extensión, incluso en el 4º tiempo...con esa más que evidente, cuanto que notoria, cita del Scherzo Nº 3 de Frederick CHOPIN...!!!

[@Gailrstarr]

Hugo Fernández Languasco what an interesting comparison! Gracias!

[@korolevpiano7794]

22:07 Is that a reference to the Chopin Scherzo?

[@diwang1977]

wow you are right that is similar to Scherzo No.3

[@julikabeer2987]

Could somebody explain why the notes are so useful? What kind of information do you get out of them? (I imagine it would be about noticing and a better understanding of the complexity of this piece) I am not able to read them unfortunately. I hope for your excuse, since this question might sound stupid to some. Thanks in advance!

[@strika2000]

As a slightly more basic response, since I don't know how much or little you actually know about music: Each of the dots on the end of a line represents one note in the piece. It shows you what pitch (how high or low) the note is, and how long you should play it for. The higher up on the lines (each group of five lines is one instrument, or one hand for the piano) it is, the higher the pitch of the note. The length of the note is determined by a slightly more complicated system, but at its most basic level, if the circle is coloured in black, it's one of the shorter notes, whereas if it's an open, white circle, it's one of the longer notes. The sum total of all these things (the music or notes on the page) give you all the information you need to play the piece yourself. So, when you can watch the music in front of you while listening, you can see what's coming up, a bit like reading the text of a story, while someone reads it out loud to you.

[@julikabeer2987]

@@strika2000 Thank you! That simile is nice :) So reading the notes meanwhile listening to them is a way to recognize the Interpretation , because you're able to compare . or even play it yourself that's the next level then quiet interesting,

[@-fb-8757]

21:59...did he know Chopin's Third Scherzo? This is a clear quote!

[@midnightmusic1087]

Wow! Good ear. I am sure he quoted it. It even has the call and response like the scherzo.

[@kerencanelo8580]

What composition is earlier?

[@kerencanelo8580]

@@midnightmusic1087 Which is earlier?

[@alessandrovecchi3179]

The third scherzo by Chopin was published in 1840

[@matthewprendergast7138]

Am I the only one who thinks 0:54 to 0:58 sounds Chopinesque? With the piano going up and down the scale.

[@thelonearchitect]

The piece quotes quite a lot of chopin. It's been composed in 1845, few years before its death, so it's probably intentional

[@matthewprendergast7138]

@@thelonearchitect Chopin and Mendelssohn are my two favorite composers. I've heard some people say that the final movement of Chopin's Cello Sonata sounds in places like Mendelssohn, and I agree. I know Chopin and Mendelssohn met in person.

[@MrFirefox411]

@@matthewprendergast7138 In fact, Mendelssohn and Chopin were friends in real life. They kept in contact until Chopin died!

[@samuelparent1817]

Comparing with the Chopin’s etude opus 10/8, you’re absolutely right 😀

[@Kyubiwan]

The opposite of this piano trio is Surf and Turf level 43.

[@roiranen5950]

21:54 chopin scherzo no 3

[@thelonearchitect]

Cannot not hear it

[@e.calebkwon5354]

c minor = Lovesick key Was Mendelssohn lovesick (by any means) when he composed this piece? Source: www.wmich.edu/mus-theo/courses/keys.html

[@klop4228]

That's one guy's opinion - listening to Beethoven's C Minor stuff you'd think it was fate or revolution. Keys mean specific things but that stuff is also composer-specific. The page also lists D-flat Major as 'leering', whereas for me it's one of the most beautiful keys there is. EDIT: Based in part on Chopin's prelude

[@justinharvey2691]

u sure thats 3 instruments? such a big sound

[@massimorizzuto4563]

8:31 ... this coda

[@user-ww2tv2dv4y]

03:31

[@myung6804]

21:54

[@calebhu6383]

1:54

[@nomaybeyes5681]

6:04

[@serkratos1216]

8:06 22:39

[@wllm4785]

Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down? We do, we do Who keeps Atlantis off the maps? Who keeps the Martians under wraps? We do, we do

[@Nathan-cc7ry]

-_-

[@mina-km5kc]

21:55 24:30

[@user-im8je5ld6v]

3,4악장

[@JoshyG]

Scherzo seems almost too easy

[@sebastian9445]

2:28

[@matiasnorenamuriel7069]

18:22

[@katjao.h.321]

början, 06:23, 15:03,

[@georgerowley5364]

That poor pianist...

[@bennyboost]

Trust me, as a pianist, and I'm sure I speak for all pianists, we love it :)

[@fraybart]

We do.

[@Pookie1-q2w]

I played this, I love this piece

[@interruptuscontranatura1219]

George Rowley That's why it's called *piano* trio

[@sunulee92]

How poor it is......

[@katbullar]

It's super difficult for the pianist

[@martinyoung99]

Yes indeed

[@Raikaska]

3:03

[@Raikaska]

6:59

[@tomlin4179]

第二樂章的浪漫程度是🐴🐴🐯🐯,不過孟德爾頌的音樂總是能帶來愉悅之感(以音樂性而言)；末樂章最後能聽出「回家(日文發音)」(似象徵日落盡歸雲處),但錄音稍不清楚,提一下題外話,現在尚不清楚,西洋古典音樂與日本到底有何淵源關係？難道耶穌真的到過日本！？

[@mcrettable]

awesome performance but I honestly think the finale would sound much better if it was slower. is it just me?

[@olla-vogala4090]

+mcrettable Yes the finale is a little on the fast side... but overall the performance was so good I just had to choose this recording!

[@ianhuh]

+olla-vogala I agree. Incredible recording by Trio Wanderer and the pianist sure made the third movement sound like a walk in the park on a sunny day!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

1. Some arpeggios look like composed on sibelius 2. If his intention was that i lose the form or where i am, its very good composed

[@AhimSaah]

Poor pianist! These people are gladiators!

[@francobonanni3499]

It is not a trio but a piano concerto with strings only...poor pianist. I love Mendelssohn but the use of the piano is excessive.

[@gentle_goy23432]

OK. So what? Lol

[@ethansaltmere]

mechanical pianist just awful the staccatos are not so short

[@ethanmitchell9642]

+Ethan If it even is such a big problem (which it isn't), there's hardly any staccato notes in the first movement anyway. And their performance is superb. I've had to play some of this myself, and it's not easy at all. Don't just listen to the first 30 seconds!

[@ethansaltmere]

+Ethan Mitchell but why is it so vertical?

[@ethansaltmere]

+Ethan the introduction of the second subject is so mechanical. so vertical

[@nicholasfox966]

The pianist's dexterity is, of course, highly impressive. At the same time, there is something almost offensive about the way his virtuosity, his "fingerfertigkeit", draws attention to itself, and thus, to him. There is an arrogance to it. What I hear is an incredible physical ability to play a series of notes, but not a whiff of the shape, pace, or drama of the music itself. It is virtuosity that is, simultaneously, exciting and tedious.

[@Gailrstarr]

Nicholas Fox I'm wondering if some of the issue was due to mic placement? The strings don't seem balanced and I found myself listening for subtleties that were missing due the the piano volume.

[@bennyboost]

Ridiculous comment....you cannot blame the pianist for brilliantly playing a part that was written brilliantly....

[@jonasdaverio9369]

The violin is clearly under the piano, but the cello really is. Maybe everybody is always used not to hear anything of what the piano is doing but that bad taste should really be avoided with chamber music. Maybe there are some other things that could be discussed with this interpretation of this trio, but whatever

[@nicholasfox966]

I'm not clear what is "ridiculous" about my comment. I don't know what a "piano part" is. Great composers don't write "piano parts". They write music. Great performers don't play "their part". If we are talking about the most shallow, decorative show piece for a single performer, that is something entirely different.

[@jricket]

@@nicholasfox966 Basically, "piano part" refers to the portion of the piece that is played by the pianist, as opposed to the violinist or cellist. In the above score, that would be the bottom two staves that are in larger print.

[@rogernortman9219]

If he could write a scherzo like this for 3 instruments, who are the mvts. that fit the scherzo in the Scotch, Italian and Reformation, for full orch. so bland! Mendelssohn is at his best when he harmonizes in 3rds and uses dim. VII harmonies. He can, at times, be too mild and intellectually prissy. He obviously had trouble with inner emotions if he couldn't survive his sister's death. A great composer, but sometimes at a distance.

[@alonsoalegria3072]

Much too fast for their technique, they are only trying to play the notes, not playing the music.

[@beni2001du69]

Please show us your technic !

[@eunsungkwon485]

LUDWIG??? I got confused with LUDWIG Van Beethoven (for a split second). He is my favourite composer. Oh, and I can guess why Mendelssohn composed this in c minor. c minor = lovesick key. God the Father would feel lovesick, since He loved sinners (to the extent of KILLING God the Son on the cross)... ...but many sinners continue to serve Satan. They (sinners) are differentiating God's heart.

[@Red..Phoenix]

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