Piano Trio No. 39 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn's Piano Trio No. 39 in G major, Hob. XV/25 was written in 1795, during the final few weeks of Haydn's second trip to London, and one of a set of three (H. XV:24–26) dedicated to Rebecca Schroeter.[1] It is perhaps his best-known piano trio and sometimes nicknamed the "Gypsy" or "Gypsy Rondo" trio because of its Rondo finale in 'Hungarian' style.[2]

The trio is in three movements:

1. Andante. Rosemary Hughes describes this movement as "a curious but charming blend of double-variation and rondo, for the two minor sections are extremely free in their connexion either with the major main theme or with each other.[3] The alternation of variations in major and minor keys is characteristic of Haydn.[4]

2. Poco adagio, cantabile. The cellist Pablo Casals was so taken with the melody in the central section (accompanied by rippling triplets from the piano) that he would take over from the violin during the repeat.

3. Rondo a l'Ongarese: Presto. A number of gypsy tunes are incorporated, including the Hungarian "recruiting dance" genre known as Verbunkos. And gypsy effects (such as strumming accompaniments and left-hand pizzicato) abound.[5]

The work was published in October 1795 by the English firm of Longman and Broderip as part of a set of three with the opus number (seldom used today) 73. The other two are No. 38 in D major (Hoboken XV:24) and No. 40 in F♯ minor, (Hoboken XV:26). All are dedicated to Haydn's friend, the widow Rebecca Schroeter.[6]