Ravensburg Beethoven Trio: Robert Volkmann Piano Trio 2

Robert Volkmann - Piano Trio No. 2 in B Minor Op. 5 (1852)
Performed by the Ravensburg Beethoven Trio.

I. Largo - 00:00
II. Ritornell - 9:10
III. Allegro Con Brio - 14:23

This piano trio was hailed as a masterpiece from the day it was premiered in 1850 and there is no reason to change that assessment today. Volkmann's piano trios were held in the highest esteem not only by the famous, but also by the general musical public of his time. They were regularly mentioned in the same breath as with those of Beethoven. High praise indeed for a composer whose works today are nearly all out of print. It was well-known that when Liszt had a stranger visiting him, for whom he wished to provide a superlative enjoyment, he played this piano trio with Joachim the famous violinist and the cellist Cossmann.

Piano Trio No.2 was published in 1852 at the same time as his first trio. It was called a "New Path" because of its highly unusual structure, which represented a clear break from the standard four movement trios of Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann. The format of the trio is not easy to describe. It has been called a multi-part fantasy with each movement having two and sometimes three sub-movements. The opening movement, entitled Largo, is an example of this. It is a long introduction, which leads to a genial, seemingly unrelated section. The third theme begins as a pleading melody which rises to a tremendous dramatic climax. The second movement is entitled Ritornell. A ritornell is usually an instrumental interlude in a vocal work. Here, Volkmann seems to have used the title in place of intermezzo. The tuneful music is mellow and relaxed. The main theme of the finale, Allegro con brio, is both forceful and exciting.