Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s creation of superior works for almost every musical form makes him one of the most recognized classical composers. His chamber music, which includes the famous Eine Kleine Nachtmusic, boasts numerous quintets, quartets, trios, piano sonatas, and the use of instruments such as the clarinet, which were not common to chamber music in the Classical period. Usually, different pieces filled different roles. The divertimentos, for example, were light music, created as entertainment, while pieces such as the string quartets dedicated to Haydn elevate chamber music to the serious, concert category.
Mozart’s Trio, K. 542 in E Major, however, doesn’t seem to fit perfectly into either category and may have been intended for both roles. Scored for violin, cello, and piano, the work is in three movements. It was composed in 1788 in the later part of Mozart’s life as he struggled with his financial situation and career. The first movement, Allegro, opens with a legato piano melody that features a four-note, descending, chromatic motive. Throughout the movement, the themes are traded off between the instruments in straightforward fashion. Mozart adds moments of interest through abrupt modulations to minor keys as well as chromatic alterations. The second movement, Andante grazioso, again begins in the solo piano and presents the single theme of the movement that features a lovely, dotted-rhythm motive. The strings enter in response to the opening piano melody, mimicking its rhythm. Throughout the movement, the strings continue to present the melody in alternation with the piano which provides decoration and coloring. The third movement, Allegro, again opens with the solo piano in a brisk theme in the piano’s middle-upper register. The violin then enters with the same theme and the piano moves down to provide bass for the first time in the movement. Mozart brings back the descending chromatic motive from the first movement and expands it into significant gestures both in the piano and the strings. The movement features melodic fragments traded between the strings and piano, phrase by phrase. Mozart also includes virtuosic writing for both the piano and violin parts in an exciting finish.
Program Notes are by Kyle Blaha, a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at The Juilliard School and faculty member in the Juilliard Pre-College and Evening Division.