Aartshertogtrio beethoven biography

Piano trio by Ludwig van Beethoven

The Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97, by Ludwig van Beethoven is a piano trio completed in 1811.^[1][2] It is commonly referred to as the Archduke Trio, because it was dedicated to Archduke Rudolph of Austria, the youngest of twelve children of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor.^[2] Rudolf was an amateur pianist and a patron, friend, and composition student of Beethoven.^[2] Beethoven dedicated about a dozen compositions to him.^[3]

The Archduke Trio was written late in Beethoven's so-called "middle period".

He sketched out the draft for it in the summer of 1810 and completed the composition in March 1811.^[1][2][4] It follows the traditional four movement structure with sonata form in the first and rondo sonata form in the last movement.^[4] It also allows for a more prominent part for the piano than previous compositions.