Piano Trio No. 2 (Schumann)

The Piano Trio No. 2 in F major, Op. 80, by Robert Schumann was written in 1847. It has four movements:

  1. Sehr lebhaft in F major
  2. Mit innigem Ausdruck - Lebhaft in D-flat major
  3. In mässiger Bewegung in B-flat minor
  4. Nicht zu rasch in F major

Schumann's first two piano trios were written in close succession, despite the large gap between their opus numbers.[1] The second piano trio is more effervescent and cheerful in mood than the first trio – the composer himself said that it makes a "friendlier and more immediate impression" than its predecessor.[2]

Schumann's genius is heard in the way in which the first movement's relatively peaceful second subject sounds new and fresh, despite being a rhythmically altered version of the first subject.[2] The development section contains a quotation the second number, "Intermezzo", from Liederkreis Op. 39.[3] The intimately expressive second movement, in the key of D-flat major (the flattened submediant), opens with a sustained violin melody over an accompaniment consisting of cello and piano left hand in close strict canon.[4] The waltz-like third movement, in B-flat minor, is also extensively built on canonic imitation.[5] The material of the finale is largely built on the interplay between three contrasting elements in the first theme: a smoothly winding snatch of piano melody, a staccato answer in the cello, and a driving continuation in the violin.[2]

References
  1. Keller, James. Chamber Music: A Listener's Guide (Oxford University Press: London 2014), p. 425.
  2. Donat, Mischa. Piano Trio No 2 in F major, Op 80 (Schumann) – from CDA30022 – Hyperion Records – CDs, MP3 and Lossless downloads
  3. Jensen, Eric Frederick. Schumann (Oxford University Press: London 2012), p. 279.
  4. Perry, Beate, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Schumann (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge 2007), p. 60
  5. Daverio, John. Crossing Paths: Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms (Oxford University Press: London 2002), p. 259.
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