Piano Trio in E flat, Wo038
Allegro moderato
Scherzo: Allegro ma non troppo
Rondo: Allegretto
Quintet for Piano and Wind in E flat, Op.16 (1796)
Grave – Allegro ma non troppo
Andante cantabile
Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo
The Piano Trio in E flat and Quintet for Piano and Wind Op.16 are both early examples of Beethoven’s chamber music. The Trio is something of a rarity; it dates from 1790-1 but was not published until 1830, and since then has led an unassuming existence at the back of the last volume of the complete Beethoven Trios. It is self-evidently a product of his apprentice-period in Bonn; all three movements are in the same key, along the lines of Haydn’s early trios, but there are individual touches. Some three years before studying with Haydn, Beethoven is already writing the characterful, independent ‘cello part Haydn was never to write in any of his trios; and the Minuet has already been dropped in favour of a spirited scherzo.
The Quintet dates from after Beethoven’s period of study with Haydn in Vienna, and is an established repertoire-work, but has perhaps suffered from being seen as too clearly the descendant of its obvious model, Mozart’s Quintet K.452, with which it shares key, scoring, and general layout. Yet the character of the work is undoubtedly Beethoven’s. While Mozart’s Quintet has the five instruments blending and conversing, Beethoven seems more interested in contrasting them and setting the block of wind instruments against a quasi-solo piano part – the classic romantic-era stance of individual against crowd. The Quintet is in three movements – a Grave introduction and lyrical sonata-form Allegro, a sonata-rondo Andante cantabile with prominent episodes for oboe, bassoon and horn, and a genial "hunting-rondo" finale, Allegro ma non troppo. Completed in 1796 and published in 1801, it is dedicated to Prince Schwarzenberg.
R. G. Bratby, 1999
Copyright Classical Notes.co.uk 2000
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