Gabriel Fauré wrote his Piano Trio in 1923 at age 78, a serene piece that reflects many of the developments of his late period of composing. By this point, he had already been suffering for more than 20 years from a painful decline in his hearing, a condition which greatly reduced his compositional output in later years.Fauré was the first French composer to separate himself from the model of German Romanticism. He created clear structure outside of the strict, Classical Sonata form and the free-form tone poem, introduced a modest, understated coloration and expression, and developed a new and daring harmony that transformed French music for the generations that followed him.
This work shows Fauré at the height of his melodic powers, the richness of his expanded harmonic palette heightening the dramatic development of the beautiful melodies that infuse the piece throughout. The first movement begins with the piano laying down a misty backdrop for the cello entry with the melancholy first theme. In rondo form, the main theme is repeated through the movement in a loose way. The longing second theme is introduced by the piano that gets interlinked with the first theme, the momentum from the joining themes sweeping the music forward to the fateful passage ending the movement.
The Andantino middle movement has rightfully been called the ‘heart of the Trio’. Its richness is that of a full psychological portrait. The simplicity of the first theme has its contrast in the B-section, consisting of long-spanned build-ups arching across the movement which ends with a peaceful joining together of themes and all instruments.
Classical Music | Music for Trio
Gabriel Fauré
Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120 Play
Recorded on 11/13/2013, uploaded on 06/16/2014
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Gabriel Fauré wrote his Piano Trio in 1923 at age 78, a serene piece that reflects many of the developments of his late period of composing. By this point, he had already been suffering for more than 20 years from a painful decline in his hearing, a condition which greatly reduced his compositional output in later years. Fauré was the first French composer to separate himself from the model of German Romanticism. He created clear structure outside of the strict, Classical Sonata form and the free-form tone poem, introduced a modest, understated coloration and expression, and developed a new and daring harmony that transformed French music for the generations that followed him.
This work shows Fauré at the height of his melodic powers, the richness of his expanded harmonic palette heightening the dramatic development of the beautiful melodies that infuse the piece throughout. The first movement begins with the piano laying down a misty backdrop for the cello entry with the melancholy first theme. In rondo form, the main theme is repeated through the movement in a loose way. The longing second theme is introduced by the piano that gets interlinked with the first theme, the momentum from the joining themes sweeping the music forward to the fateful passage ending the movement.
The Andantino middle movement has rightfully been called the ‘heart of the Trio’. Its richness is that of a full psychological portrait. The simplicity of the first theme has its contrast in the B-section, consisting of long-spanned build-ups arching across the movement which ends with a peaceful joining together of themes and all instruments.
The third movement returns to the drama and rondo form of the first, this time in a playful, dance-like character. Starting with unison strings playing a short, dramatic motif, the piano quickly responds with a running, syncopated, jazzy theme. The movement is full of surprising changes in tone and tune – until finally an exuberant motif takes over, bringing the movement to a joyous, culminating close. - © The Oberon Piano Trio
More music by Gabriel Fauré
Après un rève
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15
Piano Quartet No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 45
Nocturne in e-flat minor, Op. 33, No. 1
Impromptu No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 34
From Requiem: Hostias
Élégie in C minor Op. 24
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1, Op. 13
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15
Piano Quintet No. 1 in d minor, Op. 89
Performances by same musician(s)
Piano Trio in C Major, Hob. XV:21
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