Martinu: Piano Trio No. 3 in C major, H332

Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů excelled in chamber music and made a substantial contribution to the piano trio repertoire of the twentieth century, his keen ear for balance and sonority finding here a perfect medium for his music. Trio No. 1, Cinq pièces brèves, written in an appealing and virtuosic neo-classical style in Paris in 1930, was admired by Stravinsky. Trios Nos. 2 and 3, composed in America in 1951, are more ambitious in scope and notable for their rhythmic verve and unpredictability, ingratiating themes and elegiac slow movements.

Commemorating 50 years since Martinu’s death, the Birmingham Conservatoire’s Ensemble-in-Residence, The Schubert Ensemble, together with the Conservatoire’s Principal, George Caird, perform a varied programme by this prolific Czech composer, who spent much of his life in exile.

The recording illustrates both his versatility and his fantastically colourful musical language, and culminates in the exhilarating piano quartet, which is considered to be one of Martinu’s finest chamber compositions from his American years. It was immediately after completing this work that Martinu embarked upon writing the first of his six substantial symphonies, major contributions to the symphonic legacy of the first half of the twentieth century. Two of the other works on this disc were also written in his during his stay in America – Piano Trio No.3, and Quartet for oboe, violin and piano. Duo No.2 in D for violin and violoncello completes the programme.

After 26 years at the forefront of British chamber music, the Schubert Ensemble is firmly established as one of the world’s leading exponents of chamber music for piano and strings.

Martinu wrote no less than ten scores for trio with keyboard, including four in the classic formation of piano, violin and cello, spread out between 1930 and 1951.The charming Bergerettes make up a modest pastorale in the spirit of the cantata Kytice.Trio No. 2 pays homage to Fauré, whereas the last Trio prefigures the expressive power of the Fantaisies symphoniques (Symphony No.6), sketched out at the beginning of May 1951 in New York. The Kinsky Trio is heir to the famed Czech tradition, from the Suk Trio and Vlach Quartet to the Guarneri Trio, Kocian and Pražák quartets…