Beethoven: Clarinet Trios

Composer: Ludwig Beethoven Artist: Trio Origo Download and streaming: More information: At the heart of Trio Origo’s repertoire are the earliest trios composed for clarinet, cello and piano. The origins of the repertoire lie in the ‘Gassenhauer’ Trio composed by Beethoven in 1797 for a clarinettist, probably Joseph Bähr, who also suggested to the composer that he use a hit tune – known as a ‘Gassenhauer’ – from a recent opera by Joseph Weigl. Beethoven (uncharacteristically, but with perhaps an eye on the work’s future commercial success) duly obliged, and made Weigl’s tune the basis for his theme-and-variations finale – but he also produced a version of the trio substituting the clarinet for the violin to ensure its popularity.