Martucci won the 1883 competition sponsored by the Societa del Quartetto of Milan with this work. It is a substantial work of considerable originality which does not remind one of anybody else. It is truly a great pity that this work has not obtained a place in the repertoire.
Giuseppe Martucci (1856-1909) was born in the southern Italian city of Capua. His father was a bandmaster and gave him his first music lessons on the piano. When it was discovered that the boy was prodigy, he was sent to the Naples Conservatory at the age of 11. Before he could graduate, his father, seeing his son's amazing talent, decided to cash in and started him on a successful concert career. Martucci became well-known as a concert artist throughout Europe and his playing was admired by Liszt among others. However, later when he became of age and gained independence from his father, he worked as a professor at the Naples Conservatory, virtually ending his concert career. Besides being an important teacher, he also became the conductor of the Naples Symphony Orchestra and later the Liceo Musicale Bolognese orchestra. He is recognized as an important late 19th century Italian composer and was considered the leader of the group of Italian composers determined to break away from the dominance of opera in Italy and to restore instrumental music to its rightful place.
The opening movement, Allegro giusto, opens with a passionate melody in the strings. Written on a big scale, we hear the use of Italian melody expressed in, for that time, a very modern framework. The second movement, a big, lively Scherzo, has a high strung nervousness to it which truly conveys an extreme sense of unrest. An trio section, presents a version of Italian popular music, a zampogna, bagpipe melody. Played with mutes by the strings, it gives off an other-world quality. The Andante con moto which follows opens with a beautiful, melancholy melody, first presented by the cello. As the violin joins in, Martucci creates a fine example of expressive instrumental dialogue. After two pounding chords which clear rivets the listener's attention, the finale, Allegro risoluto, begins in a very vigorous fashion but then is tempered by a more lyrical second theme.
We have reprinted the original edition but have added rehearsal letters and corrected a few mistakes. Long out of print, we are pleased to make this wonderful piano trio available once again and warmly recommend it to both professionals and amateurs.