Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano
Encyclopedia
The Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano by György Ligeti
was completed in 1982. It is marked as an Homage
to Johannes Brahms
who wrote one of the only other examples
of this genre.
The Trio is in four movements:
A full performance of the piece lasts about 21 minutes.
The Trio was a turning point in Ligeti’s career. It is considered to be the watershed moment that opened up his "third way," a style that Ligeti claimed to be neither modern nor postmodern. Though the piece is marked as an homage to Brahms, Ligeti said, “the only thing reminiscent of Brahms is perhaps a certain smilingly conservative comportment – with a distinctly ironic distance.” The composition explores the use of major and minor harmonies without the syntax of common practice
tonality. In addition, it explores the out of tune upper partials available on the horn, asymmetric Bulgarian rhythms in the second movement, and the Ligeti lamento motif in the fourth movement. The first three movements are each in a ternary form
– a notable look back towards traditional forms. The final movement is an example of a passacaglia
using as its ground bass a similar theme as that of the opening movement. It has been pointed out that the opening theme of the first movement is reminiscent of the opening theme of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26, "Les Adieux"
.
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
was completed in 1982. It is marked as an Homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
who wrote one of the only other examples
Horn Trio (Brahms)
The Horn Trio in E flat major, Op. 40, by Johannes Brahms is a chamber piece in four movements written for natural horn, violin, and piano. Composed in 1865, the work commemorates the death of Brahms’ mother, Christiane, earlier that year. The work was first performed in Zurich on November 28,...
of this genre.
The Trio is in four movements:
- Andante con tenerezza
- Vivacissimo molto ritmico
- Alla marcia
- Lamento. Adagio
A full performance of the piece lasts about 21 minutes.
The Trio was a turning point in Ligeti’s career. It is considered to be the watershed moment that opened up his "third way," a style that Ligeti claimed to be neither modern nor postmodern. Though the piece is marked as an homage to Brahms, Ligeti said, “the only thing reminiscent of Brahms is perhaps a certain smilingly conservative comportment – with a distinctly ironic distance.” The composition explores the use of major and minor harmonies without the syntax of common practice
Common practice period
The common practice period, in the history of Western art music , spanning the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, lasted from c. 1600 to c. 1900.-General characteristics:...
tonality. In addition, it explores the out of tune upper partials available on the horn, asymmetric Bulgarian rhythms in the second movement, and the Ligeti lamento motif in the fourth movement. The first three movements are each in a ternary form
Ternary form
Ternary form, sometimes called song form, is a three-part musical form, usually schematicized as A-B-A. The first and third parts are musically identical, or very nearly so, while the second part in some way provides a contrast with them...
– a notable look back towards traditional forms. The final movement is an example of a passacaglia
Passacaglia
The passacaglia is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used by contemporary composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often, but not always, based on a bass-ostinato and written in triple metre....
using as its ground bass a similar theme as that of the opening movement. It has been pointed out that the opening theme of the first movement is reminiscent of the opening theme of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26, "Les Adieux"
Piano Sonata No. 26 (Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat major, Op. 81a, known as the Les Adieux sonata, was written during the years 1809 and 1810.The title Les Adieux implies a programmatic nature...
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Listening
- Recording Horn Trio: Andantino con tenerezza - Helen Kim, violin; Robert Patterson, horn; Adam Bowles, piano Luna Nova New Music Ensemble
- Recording Horn Trio: Vivacissimo molto ritmico - Helen Kim, violin; Robert Patterson, horn; Adam Bowles, piano Luna Nova New Music Ensemble
- Recording Horn Trio: Alla Marcia - Helen Kim, violin; Robert Patterson, horn; Adam Bowles, piano Luna Nova New Music Ensemble
- Recording Horn Trio: Lamento Adagio - Helen Kim, violin; Robert Patterson, horn; Adam Bowles, piano Luna Nova New Music Ensemble