Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827
Variations on Müller's song "Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu", Op. 121a, c.1803
Working in every major form of classical music, Beethoven wrote six main piano trios beginning with his very first opus number and culminating in the expansive, groundbreaking Archduke piano trio of his middle period. He also wrote several other pieces for the ensemble of violin, cello and piano including a very early lone piano trio (c.1791), two single movement Allegrettos, and two sets of variations. For completeness, there is also the lovely Op. 11 originally scored for clarinet, cello and piano that Beethoven transcribed for traditional piano trio. It is believed that the "Kakadu" variations were written around 1803, possibly revised in 1816 but not published until 1824 (hence the high opus number) making them the last of Beethoven's published works for piano trio. The variations are based on the aria "Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu" ("I am the tailor Cockatoo") from Wenzel Müller's Viennese Singspiel "The Sisters of Prague" first staged around 1794, most likely Müller's best known opera. A simple tune, really more of a simple chord progression with vast possibilities for play, becomes superior musical entertainment in the hands of Beethoven who wrote the Diabelli Variations and the Eroica finale around the same time. Every permutation of the piano trio has its chance to contribute to a sequence of variations with great variety and a dazzling finish. Just for a little something extra, Beethoven withholds the initial Kakadu theme by starting with a dramatically ominous introduction that lasts as long as one-third of the performance practically making this a twomovement epic miniature, pure Beethoven from scowl to smile to radiant effulgence. Someone once called this piece "making a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
© Kai Christiansen and Music at Kohl Mansion. All rights reserved.
