Florian Gassmann (1729-1774) was born in the Bohemian town of Brux in what was then part of the Austrian Empire. His main studies were with Giovanni Battista Martini in Bologna, after which he embarked upon a career as an opera composer, working primarily in Venice, where he held various positions. In 1763, he obtained the position of composer of ballets to the Imperial Court in Vienna, succeeding Christoph Willibald Gluck. Shortly thereafter, he became Chamber and Court Composer to Emperor Joseph II. Like most of his contemporaries, he was a very prolific composer writing some at least 50 operas, at least 45 symphonies, at least 40 string quartets and 8 string quintets, 40 string trios as well as numerous works for other chamber ensembles. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame, at least from the standpoint of today, is the fact that he was the main composition teacher of Antonio Salieri, who eventually succeeded him.
The Trio in E flat Major H.378, judging from the Hill catalog number (378), dates from the 1760s, probably shortly after his arrival in Vienna. It is in four movements. In each of the movements, Gassmann uses the cello or bass to produce an ostinato drumbeat effect which makes each of them sound a bit like marches. This is particularly evident in the opening Allegretto and the finale Allegro. Even in the second movement, Andante, where the music is a kind of lumbering lugubrious affair. In third place is a ceremonious, stately Menuetto, grazioso. Our soundbite is of a group using a bass rather than a cello, possibly because the manuscript bore the words Basso, which did not normally mean bass but bass voice and usually referred to the cello. Clearly, though, it is for cello.
This work is undoubtedly interesting, not only because two violas and a cello can play it but also because it represents music composed as the Baroque era waned and the Classical era began. As such, we feel it is a valuable addition to the trio player's library.
