After an early work and a discontinued attempt in 1831/32 Mendelssohn made his breakthrough in this important chamber music genre in the summer of 1839 with the Piano Trio in d minor op. 49, which was to be followed six years later by the Trio in c minor op. 66. On publication of the first trio, Schumann took the opportunity to describe the composer as the “Mozart of the 19th century”, whereby he was obviously alluding to the mixture of Classical and Romantic stylistic elements. The musical text of these two famous trios has been thoroughly revised to reflect the latest scholarly findings. In addition HN 1297 also includes a flute part for the alternative version of op. 49 (flute instead of violin) that Mendelssohn himself made.
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Content/Details
- Piano Trio c minor op. 66
- Piano Trio d minor op. 49
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Preface
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 – 47) was deeply committed to the Classical canon of forms. So it is not surprising that his two Piano Trios op. 49 and 66 are important examples of the genre that has been developed and brought to full fruition during the Classical period. Naturally, Mendelssohn also played a major role in developing new forms – such as the Romantic … more
Critical Commentary
About the composer

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
A German composer, conductor, pianist, and organist who already numbered among the most important composers in Europe during his lifetime. While still young he found a unique tonal language. Reflected in his oeuvre, which spans all genres, are the contradictory tendencies of the age – Classicism and Romanticism. His endeavors over the course his life to perform the works of Johann Sebastian Bach led to a “rediscovery” of that composer which continues unabated. His intensive engagement with Bach and his counterpoint influenced his own compositional technique.
1809 | Born into a wealthy banker’s family in Hamburg on February 3. Escape to Berlin with his parents in 1811. First musical instruction from his mother. |
1819 | He becomes a pupil of Carl Friedrich Zelter. |
1820 | Joins the Sing-Akademie in Berlin. |
1821–23 | Twelve sinfonias for strings. |
1825 | String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20. |
1826 | Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 21 |
1827 | Begins studies at the University of Berlin. |
1829 | Revival of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Berlin on March 11 and 21. Travels to England and Scotland. |
1829–30 | “Reformation” Symphony in D minor, [Op. 107], with inclusion of the choral “Ein feste Burg“ (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.) |
1830–32 | Extended travels, including to Italy and France. Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 25; Overture in B minor, Op. 26, “The Hebrides, or Fingal’s Cave” (1829–30). |
1833 | Music director in Düsseldorf. “Italian” Symphony in A major, Op. 90 (1830–33). |
1835 | Director of the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipzig. |
1836 | Premiere in Düsseldorf of his oratorio “St. Paul: Oratorio on Words of the Holy Bible,” Op. 36. |
1838-44 | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. |
1840 | Composition of “Hymn of Praise, a Symphony-Cantata on Words of the Holy Bible,” Op. 52. |
1841 | Berlin, in the service of the Prussian king. “Variations sérieuses” in D minor, Op. 54, for piano. |
1842 | Completion of Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”) in A minor, Op. 56, with a songlike opening. |
1843 | Incidental music to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61. Director of the newly founded Leipzig Conservatory. |
1846 | Premiere of his oratorio “Elijah,” Op. 70, in Birmingham. |
1847 | String Quartet in F minor, [Op. 80]. Death in Leipzig on November 4. |
About the authors
Ernst Herttrich hat bei Henle mit der bewährten Qualität eine Neuausgabe besorgt. Papierqualität, deutlicher Stich, instruktives Vorwort und ein genauer Kritischer Bericht sprechen für sich.