Elegance, Passion & a little Jazz

Piano Trio in D major, Hob. XV:7

by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

• Andante con variazioni
• Andante
• Allegro assai

Franz Joseph Haydn was reputedly a very congenial man, incorrigibly cheerful with excellent skills in both public and personal relations, yet he had an unhappy marriage with an unsupportive wife who disliked music (apparently, she would use his manuscript for pastry pan linings or curl papers for her hair!) Perhaps that might account for his exceedingly charming manners with all other women: most of the later piano trios are dedicated to various important women of the era.

The Piano Trio in D major was written in 1784-5 and dedicated to Madame la Comtesse Marianne de Witzay. This trio, like much of his music, seems to reflect his good nature. The opening movement is an elegant and charming set of five variations based on a lyrical theme. The Andante gives us poignant tenderness, while the Allegro assai is vibrant and exuberant.

Rhapsody in Blue

by George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Arranged by Brent Edstrom for piano duet

George Gershwin, a New Yorker, published his first song in 1916 – earning him 15 cents! This early success began his journey to become one of the most accomplished and popular American pianist-composers of the age. He wrote Broadway musicals and popular songs (many of which have become jazz standards), orchestral works such as An American in Paris and his famous jazz opera, Porgy and Bess. However, the piece that put him on the map was undoubtedly Rhapsody in Blue. Paul Whiteman commissioned the piece for an all-jazz concert being held to honour Lincoln’s birthday. The result was a piano concerto accompanied by jazz band, with orchestration finished by Ferde Grofé. It premiered in 1924 with Gershwin at the piano and Whiteman conducting. Throughout the years, the critical acclaim and broad appeal of the piece have inspired numerous arrangements.

The work beautifully blends classical music with jazz and blues elements. It was a first and launched a new genre of music. The musical ideas flow freely, rather like a fantasy; they interlock and overlap, continually presenting in different guises. It has an improvisatory feel with emotional expression ranging from dreamy and whimsical, to broad and rich, to rhythmically driving. The Rhapsody in Blue has been considered a generous musical portrait of early twentieth century New York City.

Piano Trio in D minor, Op.11

by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847)

• Allegro molto vivace
• Andante espressivo
• Lied: Allegretto
• Allegretto moderato

Born in Berlin, Fanny and her younger brother Felix were both extraordinarily talented children enjoying the privilege and excellent musical education of a wealthy family. They remained close their entire lives. Felix was naturally encouraged to become a professional musician, while Fanny, in keeping with social norms, was told to restrict her music to the private Mendelssohn Sunday Musicales, despite being an equally talented composer and reputedly the better pianist. Of her over 450 compositions, only a handful have ever been published. Felix once told Fanny that for her, music should serve as an ‘ornament’, but in an effort to be helpful, he did publish some of her art songs as his own Op.8 and 9. Once, when Felix visited Buckingham Palace, Queen Victoria favoured one song in particular (Italien) and wished to sing it with him. He did have the decency to confess, much to his embarrassment, that it was actually his sister’s composition! In 1846, with encouragement from her artist husband Wilhelm Hensel, Fanny finally published Songs Op.1 and 2 under her own name. That same year, she began her Piano Trio in D minor, completing it in 1847 as a birthday present for her younger sister Rebecca. Unfortunately, she died of a stroke later that year, and did not live to see its success. The trio was published in 1850.

The opening Allegro is most passionate and features a broad, yearning melody over sweeping, flowing lines. The Andante offers beauty and introspection, while the short, charming Lied (song) showcases her ability as a songstress. The piece culminates in the dramatic Allegretto moderato. Its heartfelt melody is accompanied by harp-like flourishes, and contrasts a theme of lightness and energy that propels the work to a triumphant conclusion.