Piano trio

A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, almost always a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music.

Form

Traditionally, piano trios tend to be in the same overall form as a sonata, which can be roughly said to be as follows:

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• First movement - a quick movement in sonata form
• Second movement - a slow movement
• Third movement - a minuet and trio or a scherzo in ternary form
• Fourth movement - another quick movement, often in rondo form or sonata-rondo form

However, many variations on this form exist, and there are piano trios which bear no resemblance to this formal plan.

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