What is Piano trio?
{{hatnote|The term “piano trio” can also be used in [[jazz]]. This article is about the piano trio in [[classical music]].}} A '''piano trio''' is a group of three instruments including a piano. Usually it is a [[piano]], a violin and a [[cello]]. This combination of instruments has been a very popular form of [[chamber music]] from the [[Classical music period]] onwards. A '''piano trio''' can also mean a piece of music written for a piano trio to play. Other combinations of piano with two instruments are often called by the featuring wind instrument. For example: [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] wrote a trio for piano, [[clarinet]] and [[viola]] which is usually called a “clarinet trio”. [[Brahms]] wrote a trio for piano, [[violin]] and [[French horn]] which is usually called a “horn trio”. Music for three people to play at one piano is called music for [[piano six hands]]. == Famous music for piano trio == [[Joseph Haydn|Haydn]], Mozart and [[Beethoven]] all wrote several piano trios for the traditional combination of piano, violin and cello. Beethoven’s last piano trio has the nickname ''Archduke'' because it was written for the Archduke Rudolph. [[Franz Schubert]] wrote two beautiful piano trios. In the [[Romantic music|Romantic period]] some of the best piano trios were written by [[Felix Mendelssohn]], [[Antonín Dvořák]], [[César Franck]] and [[Pyotr Tchaikovsky]]. In the [[20th century]] [[Maurice Ravel]] and [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] each wrote a famous piano trio. == Famous piano trios == [[Alfred Cortot]], [[Jacques Thibaud]] and [[Pablo Casals]] were world famous musicians who played and recorded piano trios in the early 20th century. During the second half of the 20th century the [[Beaux Arts Trio]] were the best known group. Today there are many young musicians who play piano trios, including three [[Japan]]ese sisters called the [[Fujita Piano Trio]] who play a lot of their music all from [[Performing music from memory|memory]]. [[Category:Musical groups]] [[Category:Piano]]