Presents
Carl Czerny
Piano Trio in C Major, Op.211 No.1
Carl Czerny (1791-1857) is remembered as one of the most famous piano teachers of all time. He was a child prodigy. When Beethoven heard Czerny play, he invited the boy to study with him, which Czerny did for three years. He also studied with Muzio Clementi and Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Besides being Liszt's only real teacher, Czerny taught a host of other famous pianists. Today, the only music of Czerny's which is ever played are his pedagogical works for pianists such as his etudes and his famous Art of Finger Dexterity and his School of Velocity. But Czerny composed over 1000 works in virtually every genre although most were for the piano. The bulk of his oeuvre---potpourris based on various opera arias and such which made his publishers rich, was composed at the their request. These salon pieces were incredibly popular throughout the 19th century but for this very reason Czerny was attacked by most critics as nothing more than a hack. Very few of his other works received more than a premiere and it is highly doubtful that his critics every heard his symphonies, lieder or chamber music. Had they done so, their opinion about Czerny and his music would certainly have been very different because Czerny was not only a master craftsman but also a composer with a gift for melody. This piano trio is an excellent example of his extraordinary talent
The Piano Trio in C Major dates from 1830 and begins with a bright, light-hearted Allegro con brio which is filled with cheerful and genial themes. The second movement, Andantino, grazioso, is a kind of graceful song without words. The strings sing long-lined melodies over the piano's filigree accompaniment. The toe-tapping finale, Rondo, allegro vivace, features a jaunty main theme which is cleverly developed. The music is full of charm and elegance.
We recommend this trio to home music makers looking for a program work
Parts: $29.95
