User:Emimah09/sandbox

Piano Trio No. 2 (Brahms)
Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87, by Johannes Brahms, was composed between 1880 and 1882. It is scored for piano, violin and cello. The composer wrote this piece at the age of 49, and it is largely characteristic of his mature period.

History
In early 1880 Brahms began work on two new piano trios, one in C major, the other in E♭ major. By June he had completed an Allegro movement for each of them, and showed these to Clara Schumann who offered a preference for the E♭ major piece. However, the two trio movements were set aside while Brahms worked on his second piano concerto and third symphony, and by the time he picked up the trios again two years later, the self-critical Brahms had decided to destroy the E♭ major Allegro and concentrate on the C major trio, completing the remaining three movements in the summer of 1882 while on vacation in the spa town of Bad Ischl, Upper Austria. The piece was the only one of the two trios shown to Clara Schumann and Theodor Billroth to be published. The piece was written in his mature era, in which he was an experienced artist, in the same period with which he composed 3 violin sonatas, Cello Sonata No. 2, Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, and two string quintets.

Performance

The Trio was premiered on December 29, 1882 by Brahms, Heerman, and Muller at a chamber music museum concert in Frankfurt, along with String Quintet in F Major, Op. 88. The piece was not as well received as the string quintet, but was admired by Clara Schumann for its fluid thematic evolution and phrase structure. Early performances of the piece occurred in Berlin, London, and Vienna in January of the following year. It was published in 1883 along with Op. 88. This piece is not a staple to modern chamber music repertoire. For unclear reasons it is not frequently played.

The Trio was first performed at a chamber music evening in Frankfurt-on-Main on 29 December 1882 with Brahms' first String Quintet (F major, Op. 88). Both the Trio and String Quintet were published that same month by the firm of Fritz Simrock.

Structure
The trio is in four movements:


 * 1) Allegro moderato
 * 2) Andante con moto
 * 3) Scherzo
 * 4) Allegro giocoso

I. Allegro moderato

An allegro sonata form, written in C Major and 3/4 time. noteworthy for the extensive amount of developmental material presented in the movement's exposition and prevalence of 3 or 4 part writing. Rhythmic pulse is frequently manipulated through obscuring bar lines and feeling in 2 instead of 3. The strings often play in unison, with strong melodic and contrapuntal importance, in contrast to the piano line.

'''II. Andante con moto'''

This movement, written in A minor and 2/4 (later 6/8 time) is a theme and variations. The original theme is followed by 5 variations, and each formal section is the same length, 27 measures. Each variation includes a rhythmic or thematic fragment from the theme, but they are otherwise structurally dissimilar regarding harmony, phrasing, and ornamentation. The movement features frequent syncopation, especially in the coda, and the cello often echoes the violin in inversion.

'''III. Scherzo'''

This movement is in C minor, presto in 6/8 time. It is formally comprised of a scherzo and trio, arranged in an ABA format. The A section is rhythmically involved while the B section is more lyrical and melodic. It features frequent pianissimo dynamics, and suggests the same mood as the third movement of Violin Sonata No. 3 (Brahms).

(with Picardy third),

'''IV. Allegro giocoso'''

The finale is in 4/4 time and the key of C Major. The form is somewhat ambiguous but includes elements of a sonata form and a rondo form. The movement is distinct for its 4 contrasting themes, which are each differently scored.

A typical performance lasts roughly 27 to 30 minutes.