Rediscovering What I Have

After listening to the fourth movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio in B flat major by The Gryphon Trio, I went to my CD drawer and dug out my copy of Schubert’s Piano Trio in B flat major by The Florestan Trio.

The Florestan Trio was formed in 1995.

This chamber group includes pianist Susan Tomes, violinist Anthony Marwood and cellist Richard Lester.

Recorded in Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom in December 2000, this CD Schubert Piano Trio in B flat major was first released in November 2001.

The total playing time of this CD is about 59 minutes.

It features Schubert’s

1. all four movements of Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major D898
2. Notturno in E flat major D897
3. Piano trio movement in B flat major D28

While I really love the delightful tune of the piano trio in B flat major, I must say I’d personally opt for the slightly more energetic piece of Piano Trio in E flat major if I must pick only one favorite among Schubert’s work.

Recorded in December 2001 and released in July 2002, the total playing time of this CD is about 58 minutes.

Since the original fourth movement was considered to be too lengthy, Schubert had to made two cuts, totalling 98 bars, before people would accept to perform this piece, Piano Trio in E flat major, in concerts.

In this CD, The Florestan Trio provided both the revised as well as the original versions of this fourth movement for our listening pleasure.

If you’d like to sample the recordings of The Florestan Trio, please visit the web site of Hyperion Records.

I just received a new clock radio unit.

As I was trying to preset a few radio stations on my machine, I tuned into a classical music radio station just when they were broadcasting the fourth movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio in B flat major by The Gryphon Trio.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Gryphon Trio, The Gryphon Trio is a Canadian chamber group that includes violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, pianist Jamie Parker and cellist Roman Borys. [As I've enjoyed the performance of the Canadian Parkers on Mozart: Concertos - 1 piano, 2 pianos, 3 pianos, I have since learned to pay closer attention to the news and directions of some of the prominent Canadian musicians and this group, The Gryphon Trio, is among one of them.]

This fourth movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio in B flat major is roughly about 9-10 minutes long.

While the expression was certainly delightful, this piano trio was composed at the time when Schubert was suffering terribly from his ill health in 1827.

To sample this exuberant piece, please go to Schubert: Complete Piano Trios.