Piano Trio No. 44 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn's Piano Trio No. 44 in E major, Hob. XV/28 was written in 1797. It is the second of a set of three trios dedicated to Mrs. Therese Jansen-Bartolozzi, and is noted for its especially wide expressive range as well as its virtuosity.[1] It is in three movements:

  1. Allegro moderato
  2. Allegretto
  3. Finale: Allegro

The trio opens with an ascending theme presented, untypically, by the violin and cello in pizzicato; the effect is reminiscent of a harp. The piano answers with an ornamented legato version of the same theme, before all three instruments burst into a lively bridge section leading toward the dominant. The opening theme is reproduced in the development section in a rich, full-bodied version in A-flat major.[1] The second movement, set in the tonic minor, strongly evokes the passacaglia genre. Its creeping bass line is first introduced by all three instruments in unison, before the piano introduces a winding, ornamental melody over the top of it; later, the melody and bass are used in invertible counterpoint.[2] This movement has numerous features that link it with the second movement of Bach's Italian Concerto.[3] The lively triple-time finale introduces a theme in short phrases, with a playfulness both in its rhythms and in its irregular length. The violin takes over in the minor-mode middle section, which includes an extraordinary modulation to E-flat minor, while the return of the opening material is accompanied by changes in register, and the action is temporarily suspended by several diminished seventh chords before the music comes to a close.[1]

See also

References
  1. Philip, Robert (2009). "Haydn: Piano Trios, Vol. 2 - CDA67757 - Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - Hyperion Records - MP3 and lossless downloads". www.hyperion-records.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  2. Hunter, Mary; Will, Richard (2012). Engaging Haydn: Culture, Context and Criticism. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. ISBN 1107015146.
  3. Clark, Caryl (2005). The Cambridge Companion to Haydn. Cambridge University Press. p. 136. ISBN 0521833477.


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