Presents

Friedrich Wilhelm Grünbaum

Piano Trio in B flat Major

Despite hours researching the name of Friedrich Wilhelm Grünbaum we have been unable to uncover any information about him. Clearly his last name though German does not necessarily mean that he hailed from from one of the many German states such as Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria etc. He could have been a denizen of the Austrian Habsburg Empire as well as other German speaking enclaves. So, not only do we not know where he was born but also when, though clearly judging from the music it was sometime in the mid 19th century. Nor do we know where or when he died although it probably was either late 19th or early 20th century. The trio is dedicated to one Johanna Friedheim and though we located a few individuals with that name, none seemed to be alive during the time this trio was composed or published. Some sources list the publication date as 1862 others 1890. If you can find any information about this composer, let us know and we will reward you with any two works from our catalogue at no cost.

We do known that Grünbaum's Piano Trio in B flat Major was published by the Leipzig firm of Otto Junne sometime in the early 1890s and we have reprinted this edition with some corrections. The trio is subtitled Leichtes, meaning light, or easy and not difficult, and as such presents no technical difficulties and is written in a mid rather than late romantic style. Its beautiful thematic material raises it to the level deserving of concert hall performance, especially for amateurs seeking a very effective work to present in concert. It is in two movemetns. The trio opens with a charming Allegro moderato. The second movement Andantino, thema con variazione begins with a stately theme introduced first by the piano. It is followed by eight variations, different in mood and tempo. The eighth and final variation is the most substantial and makes for an exciting conclusion to this appealing work.

 Parts $29.95