Clarinet trio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A clarinet trio is a chamber musical ensemble that consists of a clarinet and two other instruments. Most commonly, the clarinet is combined with a piano and a bowed string instrument, such as a viola, a cello or a violin. In Western classical music, the clarinet-viola-piano trio, clarinet-cello-piano trio and clarinet-violin-piano trio have proven most popular, but many other combinations exist, with or without piano. A musical work for any of these ensembles is also called a clarinet trio.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the first to write for this combination in his Trio for piano, clarinet and viola in E-flat major, K 498 (the Kegelstatt-Trio).[1] Later, other composers followed his example, such as Max Bruch in his Eight Pieces for clarinet, viola and piano, op. 83.
Clarinet–cello–piano trio
Ludwig van Beethoven was the first to write for this combination in his Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) and violoncello in B-flat major, Op. 11 (the Gassenhauer-Trio)[2] and the Trio for piano, clarinet (or violin) and violoncello in E-flat major, op. 38 (an arrangement of his Septet). Later, other composers followed his example, such as Johannes Brahms in his Trio for piano, clarinet (or viola) and violoncello in A minor, op. 114.
Clarinet–violin–piano trio
A 20th-century addition to the clarinet trio genre, this combination was pioneered by Darius Milhaud in his Suite for violin, clarinet and piano, op. 157b (1936), and Béla Bartók in his Contrasts for clarinet, violin, and piano, Sz. 111, BB 116 (1938).