20th and 21st century piano trios

[Guido]

A continuation of http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,1089.0.html which dealt with Romantic piano trios.

As I said in that thread, the ones I know (of the 20th century) are Ives, Faure, Ravel, Shostakovich no.2, Bridge no.1 and 2, Debussy, Greif, Twardowski, Skalkottas and the two by Zimmerli. I regard all of these very highly indeed.

What other 20th/21st century piano trios are there which you would recommend?

[bhodges]

This CD called Passage is excellent, with the Trio Ondine.  I especially like Per Nørgård's Spell, but the whole CD is good, including an early Nielsen trio--very unlike his symphonies, and shows how far he progressed. 

--Bruce

[not edward]

The Schnittke, definitely, even though it's an arrangement of the string trio. Martinu's three are also pretty strong works. A few others I've heard that are worth hearing if not on that level: Sciarrino's second, plus single trios by Denisov, Wuorinen, Kokkonen, Harvey and Hersant.

[vandermolen]

I heard a beautiful Piano Trio by Lily Boulanger on BBC Radio 3 this week but can't find a CD. It is subtitled D'un Soir Triste and seems readily available in an orchestral version but not in the chamber version which I prefer.

[lukeottevanger]

I was going to mention the Harvey, but I see Edward's done so! James MacMillan's Fourteen Little Pictures are for these forces, and are quite striking.... it's a form, though, which a little like the piano quartet and piano quintet, has almost disappeared from the more avant garde end of things (reminding me of the shock of seeing a piano quintet by Xenakis for the first time!). It seems to be too redolent of romanticism for some. Personally, I've always wanted to write one, so if you're that desperate to hear new ones, I'm available for a very reasonable commission! 

There is one work which isn't quite for these forces but which is probably worth mentioning - Ligeti's horn trio. It's one of the greatest pieces of chamber music of the second half of the 20th century, and you need to hear it. (Though if you wait a few more hours, you will..... )

[bhodges]

James MacMillan's Fourteen Little Pictures are for these forces, and are quite striking....

Must check this out immediately, since I'm on something of a MacMillan kick lately...thanks for mentioning it.

--Bruce

[Guido]

I've just had a look and I do in fact own the Macmillan pieces and the Kokkonen trio - I had only listened to the other tracks on those CDs. Thanks for the other suggestions. I will certainly get that Passage CD.

I agree with your assessment Luke. With the birth of neoromanticism one would think that there would be a flowering of pieces in the genre again (perhaps there are?). The Zimmerli trios are both very fine works in estimation, especially the first (in his own words the second is a comment on the first), they being the most recent ones in my collection (I think late 90s or early 00s). They combine a neoromantic tone with overtly jazzy elements and are just incredibly rich and sumptuous sounding.

[Kullervo]

This CD called Passage is excellent, with the Trio Ondine.  I especially like Per Nørgård's Spell, but the whole CD is good, including an early Nielsen trio--very unlike his symphonies, and shows how far he progressed. 

--Bruce

I can also vouch for this one. Four very different composers, each with their own highly individual take on the genre.

[quintett op.57]

Shosta's one is a great piece too

[Guido]

Shosta's one is a great piece too

Yes. I actually like Shostakovich's early works very much, and I think I saw this in concert once, but it didn't quite have the same effect on me as the ncredible second piano trio. I should look it out.

[HARPER_JT]

I recommend this CD:

http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/May06/Kagel_aecd0639.htm

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, that's an absolutely wonderful disc - don't know why I forgot it! Enthusiastically seconded!

[karlhenning]

Yes. I actually like Shostakovich's early works very much, and I think I saw this in concert once, but it didn't quite have the same effect on me as the ncredible second piano trio.

Oh, it won't have the same effect, of course.

[Maciek]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned piano trios by Penderecki, Górecki, Lutosławski, Kilar, Baird or Serocki? And why hasn't Bruce mentioned Glass?




I believe Krzysztof Meyer has written at least one. I think I have it, and if I do - you probably do to, Guido.

There's an early (meaning "late romantic") Andrzej Panufnik piano trio that for some reason bores me to death - but then most of his pieces have that effect on me.

And if "piano trio" means "piece for piano and two other instruments" (OK, OK ), then Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen has written several, and yes, some of them include cello. I especially like Mirror Pieces (1980) for clarinet, cello and piano - a staple Gudmundsen-Holmgreen piece. The other two I know: Territorial Song (1995-7) for bass clarinet, cello and piano; and In terra pax (1961) for clarinet, piano and percussion (nice set of instruments but sadly no cello ). You know where to find all of these.

[Maciek]

Oh, and there's this page. Not that it's all that valuable...

[johnQpublic]

I have this disc and while it's not great it may satisfy someone's hunger for 20th Century Piano Trios:

[Maciek]

Just remembered this: if we go by the "wide" definition, H.M. Górecki's Lerchenmusik (for clarinet, cello and piano) has got to be one of my favorite pieces by that composer - as good as the 2nd Symphony, 2nd Quartet, or Harpsichord Concerto!

[bhodges]

Just remembered this: if we go by the "wide" definition, H.M. Górecki's Lerchenmusik (for clarinet, cello and piano) has got to be one of my favorite pieces by that composer - as good as the 2nd Symphony, 2nd Quartet, or Harpsichord Concerto!

I forgot about that one--good call, Maciek!  And I forgot about the Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Mirror Pieces, also a good recommendation.

(But I'm gonna get you for that Glass comment...     )

--Bruce

[Guido]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned piano trios by Penderecki, Górecki, Lutosławski, Kilar, Baird or Serocki? And why hasn't Bruce mentioned Glass?




I believe Krzysztof Meyer has written at least one. I think I have it, and if I do - you probably do to, Guido.

There's an early (meaning "late romantic") Andrzej Panufnik piano trio that for some reason bores me to death - but then most of his pieces have that effect on me.

And if "piano trio" means "piece for piano and two other instruments" (OK, OK ), then Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen has written several, and yes, some of them include cello. I especially like Mirror Pieces (1980) for clarinet, cello and piano - a staple Gudmundsen-Holmgreen piece. The other two I know: Territorial Song (1995-7) for bass clarinet, cello and piano; and In terra pax (1961) for clarinet, piano and percussion (nice set of instruments but sadly no cello ). You know where to find all of these.

Cheers for the tips Maciek - I will look them out. Is Lutoslawski's any good? Was playing through little sections of the cello concerto yesterday, and fell in love with it all over again... one of the great cello works.

[Maciek]

Sorry, that first of names was a joke (obviously, not a very good one - even I didn't laugh ) - a sort of indirect response to the comment that there are surprisingly few piano trios around. I think it is a little surprising (though Luke's explanation seems reasonable).

I've crossed out the hoax now. 0:)

(Well, it wasn't really a hoax - I never actually said any of those people composed a piano trio!)