Classical Music | Music for Trio

Recorded on 04/13/2006, uploaded on 01/25/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Trio, Op. 63            Carl Maria von Weber

Allegro moderato; Scherzo; Shepherd's Lament; Finale      

Carl Maria von Weber was born in Eutin, Germany in 1786.  A cousin of Mozart's wife, Constanze Weber, Carl was trained as a musician from an early age.  In 1817, Weber gained the position of Music Director at the prestigious Dresden Opera.  He began work on his masterpiece "Der Freischütz", now regarded as the first important Romantic German opera, in 1818.  It was the following summer that Weber completed this Trio in g minor.

The Trio is one of only four chamber works in Weber's entire output.  The year 1819 had been full of personal turmoil for Weber, including the death of his daughter. This is reflected in the dark, mournful opening of the first movement.  It develops into one of Weber's longest and most effective sonata forms.  The scherzo is a whirling waltz, similar to "Invitation to the Dance" that Weber was to compose immediately afterwards.  The third movement, "Shepherd's Lament" is a beautiful pastorale that predates the rest of the Trio by six years.  The finale showcases Weber's flair for drama.  After a recitative-like opening in the piano, the movement becomes a full-fledged opera in which each instrument is a virtuosic soloist.    Thomas Cuffari

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.