Piano Trio

The Piano Trio runs ca. 9-10” in three movements. The first movement (Allegro con brio) is in a lively 6/8 meter composed with a key signature of two flats. It unfolds in a ternary form with a middle B section that provides a kind of development of the A section’s principal materials. The second movement is a chaconne marked Lento e risoluto and begins with the solo violin. This movement is designed around a three-measure ground bass which is first introduced in the solo violin part. The melodic line above this ground bass becomes increasingly florid as the other instruments (first piano, then the cello) are introduced. There follows a brief canonic interlude with this melody and bass before the opening music returns. The final movement (Allegro non troppo) begins with music that is light and dance-like in character. Also in a ternary form, the middle section provides an interpolated slow movement. There is a type of false recapitulation, then further slow music that partly hints at the main theme. The opening music then fully returns and the movement ends with a rousing coda.

The Beck Piano Trio was premiered 15 April 1982 at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. The performers were Julie Metz (violin), Peter Susser (cello), and Deborah Jamini (piano). The recording here is from that premiere.