Op119 Trio

Trio, Opus 119 composed by Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832)
Edited by Philippe Bernold for two flutes and piano (or flute, violin, and piano) OR (flute, cello, and piano)
Includes score and parts
Duration: 18 minutes

Trio (G-major), Adagio (Eb-major), Final (G-major)

“Although Kuhlau never really played the flute, he produced a vast and remarkably varied corpus for that instrument. He explored unusual formats, such as flute trios and quartetes but also composed wide-scale sonatas, variations, chamber music and many duets, a pedagogical purpose often underlying the latter.  Stylistically, Kuhlau is related to Beethoven whom he admired very much and met in 1825. His unjustified reputation as a “minor” composed probably originates in the popularity of his sonatinas for piano-light, charming works which still belong to the staple repertoire of every budding pianist.  

The Grand Trio in G major opp. 119 is  his very last piece for flute but also one of his last compositions. It was composed in 1831 in rather difficult circumstances. A year before, Kuhlau had lost both his parents within a few months of each other, and in February 1831, a few months before he composed the Grand Trio, he lost a great many manuscripts of his work in the fire that destroyed his house.”- Philippe Bernold (Preface)