Clarinet–viola–piano trio

A clarinet-viola-piano trio, often titled "Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano" is a work of chamber music that is scored for three musicians: one clarinet, one viola, and one piano; or is the designation for a musical ensemble of such a group.

This combination of instruments differs from the traditional piano trio instrumentation, i.e. piano, violin and violoncello, and from the clarinet-violin-piano trio and the clarinet-cello-piano trio by the fact that the viola and the clarinet share roughly the same range. The combination of viola and clarinet is thus distinguished by the timbre (tone quality or colour) of the instruments rather than register (high versus low ranges, like violin compared with cello).

Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) was the first to write for this combination of instruments with his "Kegelstatt" Trio, K. 498 (1786). The Trio, along with his subsequent Clarinet Quintet, K. 581 (1789) and Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 (1791) were written at a time when the clarinet was a relatively newly invented instrument. These three compositions, which feature the clarinet, were largely responsible for popularizing the instrument's use in chamber and orchestral works. German composers Robert Schumann (1810–1856) and Max Bruch (1838–1920) also wrote notable works for this trio combination.

Repertoire

Works scored for clarinet, viola, and piano have gained increasing popularity in the modern era. The repertoire includes:

• Kalevi Aho: Trio (2006)
• Johan Amberg: Fantasistykke (Fantasy Pieces), Op. 12 (1910)
• Milton Babbitt: Triad (1994)
• Nicolas Bacri: Trio "American Letters" (1994)
• Leslie Bassett: Trio (1953)
• Max Bruch: 8 Stücke (8 pieces), Op. 83 (1910)
• Jeffry Phillips Burns: Coast Clear (2005)
• Howard J. Buss: Reverie (1992)
• Alexandre Carlin: Trio (2013)
• Christian Dachez: Entre les ronces (2009)
• Brett Dean: Night Window (1993)
• Rudolf George Escher: Trio (1978)
• Thierry Escaich: Trio américain (2002)
• Rina Furano: Trio No. 2 in G major
• Jean Françaix: Trio (1990)
• Anthony Girard: Trio
• Philippe Hersant: Six Bagatelles (2007)
• Gordon Jacob: Trio (1969)
• Theodoros Karyotakis: Trio (1969)
• Nigel Keay: Trio in Four Movements "Adagietto Antique" (2009)
• György Kurtág: Hommage à R. Sch (1990)
• Franz Koringer: Sonata profana 5, divertimento ungherese (1974)
• Colin Matthews: Three Interludes (1994)
• Siegfried Matthus: Wasserspiele (2001)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Trio in E♭ major "Kegelstatt", K. 498 (1786)
• Carl Reinecke: Trio in A major, Op. 264 (c. 1903)
• Julius Röntgen: Trio in E♭ major (1921)
• Leo Smit: Trio (1938)
• Heinrich Kaspar Schmid: Trio, Op. 114 (1944)
• Robert Schumann: Märchenerzählungen, Op. 132 (1853)
• Elliott Schwartz: Vienna Dreams (1998)
• Roger Smalley: Trio (1992–1999)
• Juan Maria Solare: Sale con fritas (2005–2012)
• Richard Stoker: Terzetto, Op. 32 (1996)
• Franklin Stover: Two Pieces (1996)
• Huw Watkins: Speak Seven Seas (2011)
• Jörg Widmann: Es war einmal... (Once Upon a Time...) (2015)
• John Woolrich: A Farewell (1992)
• Seung Ha You: Trio "Réflexion sur la mort à Claus-Christian Schuster", Op. 2d (2011–2012)

Arrangements of concertos

Although not originally intended as a chamber music work, the works of several composers who have written concerti for viola and clarinet have been arranged for a trio with the orchestral part condensed and arranged for piano. Notably, the Double Concerto for viola, clarinet and orchestra, Op. 88 (1911) of Max Bruch has been arranged for viola, clarinet and piano. Other concertos with these solo instruments include a concerto by Aulis Sallinen and Alternatim (1997) by Luciano Berio.

Transcriptions

• Johannes Brahms: Seven Piano Pieces transcribed by Paul Rosenbloom: Capriccio in F# Minor, Op. 76, No. 1; Intermezzo in B Minor, Op. 119, No. 1; Intermezzo in E Minor, Op. 119, No. 2; Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2; Intermezzo in A Minor, Op. 116, No. 2; Intermezzo in C Major, Op. 119, No. 3; Capriccio in G Minor, Op. 116, No. 3

See also

• Piano trio repertoire

External links

• Clarinet-Viola-Piano Trios: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project