Ludwig van Beethoven

Piano Trio No. 4

Street Song

Op. 11


The work is also sometimes known by the nickname "Gassenhauer Trio". This arose from its third movement which contains nine variations from a theme from the then popular dramma giocoso L'amor marinaro ossia Il corsaro (15 October 1797, Wiener Hoftheater) by Joseph Weigl. This particular melody, "Pria ch'io l'impegno" ("Before I go to work"), was so popular it could be heard in many of Vienna's lanes ("Gasse" in German). A "Gassenhauer" usually denotes a (normally simple) tune that many people (in the Gassen) have taken up and sing or whistle for themselves, the tune as such having become rather independent from its compositional origins. A rare word in contemporary German, rough modern equivalents of the term include "hit" (success) or "schlager". Other composers who used this melody include Joseph von Eybler, Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Niccolò Paganini. (Wikipedia)

Instrumentation

Keyboard

  • Piano

Woodwind

  • Clarinet

Strings

  • Cello

Scores


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