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 that is ever played is his pedagogical works for pianists, such as his etudes, 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 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 ever 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 a minor dates from 1833. The first movement, Allegro con brio, is stormy and dramatic. The second movement, Scherzo, marked Presto, is energetic and heavily accented. There is a nicely contrasting lyrical trio section that features a beautiful duet between the violin and cello over a quiet piano accompaniment. Next comes an expressive Adagio, laden with tension and dark colors. The final movement, a Rondo marked Allegro capriccioso e vivace, is lively and effervescent, featuring rapid piano runs, scalar passages, and varied episodes ranging from agitated outbursts to witty, sparkling bravura.
We recommend this trio for concert performance, but also to accomplished home music makers. Making this work's acquaintance will be a rewarding experience
