Piano Trio's

[astroboy]

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering what your experiences are with playing in a piano trio (piano, violin and cello). I'm in a trio at uni, and we are currently working on Beethoven's opus 70 in D major (ghost). I've heard recordings of some of the trio repertoire (such as the Mendelssohn d minor, Shostakovich e minor, Schubert Bb major..), and I know there is quite a lot out there (i have a list, but haven't gotten around to looking for the scores and recordings). I'm interested in your experiences with piano trios and/or the repertoire for this combination.

Thanks heaps

Ryan

[mrchops10]

Lucky for you, there's tons of great piano trio reportoire. Playing Tchaikovsky's great Trio was a very musically rewarding experience for me, especially as I had wonderful partners. This is a great trio to attempt, but demands a good deal of technique for all the instruments, particularly the piano. The 2nd mov't is much harder to coordinate than the first. The Ravel Trio is equally great, and even more difficult for all instruments (except maybe piano), and requires excellent string players.

For me, the problem with most trios is lack of assertion on the part of the pianist. Violinists are traditionally taught to lead, and cellos also in solos. Pianists are expected to follow, to "accompany." This is IMO the wrong perspective. In a piano trio, the piano is the star; follow when actually accompanying a violin or cello solo, but if you have the weightier part, go for it; just be continually conscious of how you choose to distribute the sound, greatly diminishing texture and non-essential parts. There are so many things to keep in mind in trio work, these are a few. Some other reportoire:
Mozart, Haydn, and early Beethoven trios, if you like this reportoire. In another thread I warned a new trio pianist that these are the most difficult to play effectively, and I still believe it.
Smetana g minor trio is a great, very expressive piece.
Faure trio
Schubert E flat major I prefer to the B flat major, and so did Schubert.

These are my favorites. For good, solid recordings you can also go with the Beaux Arts Trio. Very competent playing at all times.

[JCarey]

The first trio I performed was my own. It was a lovely experience.

[franzliszt2]

Bridge piano trio is amazing. As well as the one's mentioned above.  The first trio I played was Schubert notturno, which is very nice. Brahms' trios are great too.  Tchaikovsky or shostakovich no.2 has to be the best though

[BoliverAllmon]

The first trio I performed was my own. It was a lovely experience.

lucky you. where did you study composition anyways?

[mrchops10]

Bridge piano trio is amazing. As well as the one's mentioned above.  The first trio I played was Schubert notturno, which is very nice. Brahms' trios are great too.  Tchaikovsky or shostakovich no.2 has to be the best though

How did I forget Brahms!!!

[Dazzer]

I have a recording of my mendellsohn dmin 1st mvt in the audition room. bad one though haha. (the playing, not the sound quality)