Classical Music | Music for Trio

Recorded on 02/01/2005, uploaded on 01/21/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Trio No. 1 in d minor, Op. 63         Robert Schumann

 Mit Energie und Leidenschaft; Lebhaft, doch nicht zu rasch

 Langsam, mit inniger Empfindung- Mit Feuer         

'With energy and passion' is Schumann's indication for the first movement of the D minor Trio, Op. 63; and the sinuous main theme uncoils from the violin's lowest register, against a swirling piano part. Throughout the movement breathless agitation is conveyed in extreme compression. No sooner has the opening melody been stated than it subsides in a turn-like phrase on the violin, leading to the second subject. This chromatic new theme is given out in canon, and its continuation introduces the first theme as a counter-subject on the cello.

Having been unusually condensed in the exposition, Schumann is now broad at the centre of the movement. The expansion is achieved by means of an extraordinary moment of stasis which introduces a new theme, and a strikingly original sonority. Many of Schumann's opening movements feature a marked change in mood at a parallel point; none does so to more startling effect than this. The new theme dominates the remainder of this portion of the movement, and Schumann alludes to it again during the coda.

The scherzo-like second movement provides an instance of Schumann's ability to unify apparently contrasting material. Here the driving dotted rhythm of the scherzo's main motif counters the smoothly rising and falling theme of the trio; and yet they both emanate from the same melodic line.

The D minor Trio belonged, as Schumann admitted, to a 'time of gloomy moods'; and its slow third movement is one of his great tragic utterances. The sense of world-weariness is engendered by slowly resolving suspensions in the low register of the piano part, and by the drooping phrases of the violin. The change from minor to major for this central portion of the piece is one that serves only to increase the music's sense of yearning; and it is only with the turn to the tonic major for the relatively uncomplicated finale, which follows without a pause, that the tension is ultimately resolved in a joyous affirmation of faith.    Denali Trio

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.