Hans Pfitzner

Klaviertrio op. 8

The piano trio in F major Op. 8, composed in 1896, is one of Pfitzner's most successful works and was often performed during his lifetime, as for example by Alma Mahler. Several recent prominent CD recordings underline the importance of the individual composition in which wonderful cantilenas, outbursts of pain and gnawing grief alternate in a characteristic way. The finale alone, with its duration of more fifteen minutes, presents itself as a symphonic poem of three voices. Published upon suggestion of the Mali Pfitzner Foundation, the new edition is based on Pfitzner's own revised edition published in 1919 and has now been re-revised and edited along with a detailed preface by Rainer Cadenbach. Important for the understanding of the work are the Italian performance instructions which were all added by the composer himself.