Schubert: Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, Mvt. 2

The Trio No. 1 in B-flat major for piano, violin, and cello, D. 898, was composed by Franz Schubert in 1827 and completed in 1828, during the final year of his life. It was published posthumously in 1836 as Opus 99, eight years after Schubert’s death. Similar to his other piano trio in E-flat, this piece is of an unusually large scale for a piano trio, with a performance time of approximately 40 minutes.

The second movement (Andante un poco mosso, 6/8, E-flat major) resembles a gondola song, characterized by a lilting melody and a gentle, swaying rhythm. As in some of Schubert’s other late slow movements, a contrasting, more turbulent section interrupts the calm. However, tranquility is soon restored.