Presents
Paul Wranitzky
Divertissement No.1 for Piano Trio in G Major, Op.32 No.1
Paul Wranitzky (1756-1808 Pavel Vranický in the Czech form) was born in the town Nová Ríše (then Neureisch) in Moravia. At age 20, like so many other Czech composers of that period, he moved to Vienna to seek out opportunities within the Austrian imperial capital. Wranitzky played a prominent role in the musical life of Vienna. He was on friendly terms and highly respected by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven who preferred him as the conductor of their new works. Wranitzky was, as so many of his contemporaries, a prolific composer. His chamber works number over 100. Wrantizky wrote at least 24 string trios, at least 15 for violin, viola and cello. While he wrote some works for piano and strings, they are much less numberous than those he wrote for strings alone.
Writing about Wranitzky's chamber music in the last part of the 19th century, the famous Belgian critic and musicologist Fetis recalled:
“The music of Wranitzky was in fashion when it was new because of his natural melodies and brilliant style…I recall that, in my youth, his works held up very well in comparison with those of Haydn. Their premature abandonment of today has been for me a source of astonishment.”
Divertissement No.1 in G Major for piano trio is the first of a set of three published in Germany by the firm of Jean (Johann) Andre of Offenbach sometime in the late 170s, judging from the plate number 1189.String Trio in F Major, Op.3 No.1 is the first of a set of three which were published in Paris between 1794-95. Up until about 1800 most piano trios, like those of Haydn, were published with titles like Sonata or Divertimento or Divertissement. for Piano, Violin and Cello. Only after 1800 did the term Klaviertrio or Piano Trio become standard. While most of Haydn's piano trios are basically piano sonatas which lose little by not having the strings play, Wranitzy's trio is quite different. While the piano, as one would expect, is primus inter pares, both the violin and the cello are given substantial parts to play. The cello, which Haydn never gave solos to in his trios, is given melodies to play in its highest registers. The first movement, Allegro brillante, starts with the strings given the main theme which is lively, upbeat and full of energy. Parts of the theme recall a rather well-known folktune. In the lovely middle movement, Andante un poco mosso, it is the cello which is given the lead. Both strings play a major role, while the piano mostly stays in the background. The finale, Rondo, allegro non troppo, is in 6/8, a meter of which Wranitzky often liked to use for his finales. The movement is by turns light and toe-tapping but also at times quite lyrical.
We have reprinted the original Andre edition. It is perfectly readable but it is not, of course, like a new editon, and for that reason the price is lower than are normally very reasonable trio prices. But this trio is certainly worthwhile and an excellent candidtate for concert performance, especially since it shows what an important but less famous composer than Haydn was doing at this time.
Parts: $15.95
