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October 2024--December 2024

The Piano Trios of Hans Huber

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Hans Huber (1852-1921) was born in the Swiss town of Eppenberg. Between 1870-74, he studied at the Leipzig Conservatory with Carl Reinecke and Ernst Richter. After graduating he held a number of positions before being appointed a professor at the Basel Conservatory, where he served as director between 1889-1917. Huber�s music was firmly rooted in the Romantic movement inspired at first by Schumann and Brahms and then later by Liszt and Richard Strauss. He was widely considered Switzerland�s leading composer during the last quarter of the 19th and first decade of the 20th century. He composed in virtually every genre and many of his works were for long years part of various repertoires and the only works by a Swiss composer that were regularly performed outside of Switzerland. He composed four piano trios.

Hans Huber�s Piano Trio No.1 in E flat Major, Op.20 dates from 1877. The opening movement, Nicht schnell, quasi Andante, begins with the piano alone giving out what is a somewhat diffident main subject for several bars. When the strings join in, it becomes a highly lyrical and romantic duet between the two. The second theme, though quicker in tempo, keeps the same sad and diffident mood. The exciting opening bars of the second movement, a downward whirling and chromatic passage, marked Nicht zu rasch, mit kr�ftig markirtem Rhythmus (not too fast, with strong, accented rhythm) is in the form of a scherzo. A pastoral interlude briefly interrupts. Later, a lovely trio section provides an excellent contrast. The third movement is simply marked, Nicht zu langsam (not too slow). It begins with the piano alone playing a series of dreamy chords before the strings enter, singing a very romantic kind of lovers' duet. The main theme to the finale, Sehr schnell (very quick), is characterized more by its hard-driving, pounding rhythm in 3/4 than by its melody. One might say it is a kind of traveling music with all of its forward motion. A contrasting second subject has a long-lined melody, but always in the background, albeit softly, is the pounding rhythm.

Huber�s Piano Trio No.2 in E Major, Op.65 dates from 1883. It is composed on a large scale. The opening movement, Andante, begins with two introductory chords. Almost immediately, the tempo picks up and it is really no longer an Andante. The main theme is fluid, quite dramatic and romantic. The second subject is closely related. Constant tempi changes create a heightened sense of interest. The clever and highly original second movement, Allegrissimo, takes the place of a scherzo. The strings are muted and the piano which leads the way is kept soft. The music is mysterious, fairylike with tinges of French influence. A slow movement, Langsam und sehr gesangvoll, make it clear that we are to hear lyrical music. It begins with a delicate piano introduction. Then the violin enters with a soft song. The whole time, the cello rests but then enters at the beginning of the second section while the violin rests. The effect is of a miniature violin sonata followed by a miniature cello sonata. The finale, Allegro con fuoco, has a genial, upbeat melody for its main theme. The music is not so much fiery as jovial and inviting.

Huber�s Piano Trio No.3 in F Major, Op.105 dates from 1890. The main theme to the first movement, Allegretto, is fluid, flowing and genial but not without dramatic episodes. The second movement, Adagio ma non troppo, begins is a quiet and reflective fashion but tension builds and leads to quicker and more aggitated section before calming to conclude. Next comes an intermezzo, Allegretto molto grazioso. The the very effective finale, Allegro con fuoco, opens with a heroic melody proceeds with great energy

Huber wrote one more piano trio but it was not for the standard instrumentation of violin, cello and piano, but rather for two violins and piano. And he chose not to call it a piano trio but rather a Sonata for 2 Violins and Piano in B flat Major, Op.135. It dates from 1913. It is without doubt one of the finest, if not the finest, Romantic work for this ensemble. It opens with a brief Maestoso introduction which leads seamlessly to the main section Allegro tranquillo, which starts calmly with great lyricism. An interlude in the minor to a joyous and triumphant second theme. An extraordinarily fine Menuetto in the minor comes next. It retains its dance-like quality, while at the same time exploring the new tonalities of the late Romantic movement. The third movement, Romanze, adagio ma non troppo, begins in a highly romantic vein with a warm, affectionate melody. The second theme though just as romantic provides a very fine contrast. The finale, Allegro non troppo, begins with a brief whirlwind introduction before it is swept away by gorgeous main theme which rushes forward with a sense of joy and purpose..

You can hear soundbites from each movement on our website by clicking on the boldface links above. The parts are available from Edition Silvertrust.

String Qts Dedicated to Haydn-Part 1---March 2012

String Qts Dedicated to Haydn-Part 2---April 2012

3 New Beethoven Quartets?---May 2012

Hermann Berens String Trios---June 2012

2nd Movt Bruckner Str Qnt too hard---July 2012

Juan Crististomo Arriaga The Spanish Mozart---August 2012

Johan Wikmanson's String Quartets---Sept 2012

Theodore Dubois' Piano Trios---October 2012

Trios for Clarinet, Cello & Piano---Nov / Dec 2012

Woldemar Bargiel Piano Trios---January / February 2013

John Antes String Trios---March / April 2013