Piano Trio No. 39 (Haydn)

File:Joseph_Haydn.jpg (1791)For date of portrait see {{cite book|last=Jones|first=David Wyn|author-link=David Wyn Jones|year=2009|title=The Life of Haydn|page=vi|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521895743}}.]]

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.{{cite book|last=Brauner|first=Jürgen|year=1995|title=Studien zu den Klaviertrios von Joseph Haydn|publisher=H. Schneider|isbn=9783795208080}}{{page needed|date=August 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.8notes.com/scores/17780.asp|title=Haydn – Piano Trio 'Gypsy Rondo' 3rd mvt sheet music|website=8notes.com|access-date=2017-07-12}}

The trio is in three movements:

{{Ordered list|type=upper-roman

| Andante

| Poco adagio, cantabile

| Rondo all'Ongarese: Presto

}}

Rosemary Hughes describes the first movement as "a curious but charming blend of double-variation and rondo, for the two minor sections are extremely free in their connection either with the major main theme or with each other."Joseph Haydn", in Chamber Music, ed. Alec Robertson, Pelican, 1957, p. 42. The alternation of variations in major and minor keys is characteristic of Haydn.[https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W10119_67719 Philip, Robert. Notes to Hyperion CDA67719 (2009)]

The second movement, which continues the gentle mood, is noted for the violin melody in the central section. This was a particular favourite of cellist Pablo Casals, who (ignoring the score) used to take over from the violinist on the repeat.

The final movement incorporates a number of Gypsy tunes, including the Hungarian "recruiting dance" genre known as Verbunkos, and gypsy effects (such as strumming accompaniments and left-hand pizzicato).[https://www.sacms.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/TermpestTrio-Program-Notes-Piano-Trio-MOD.pdf Fink, Michael, program notes (2013)]

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 Piano Trio No. 40 (Haydn), (Hoboken XV:26). All are dedicated to Haydn's friend, the widow Rebecca Schroeter.[https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA66297 Robertson, Nicolas. Notes to Piano Trios Nos 38–40, Hyperion CD CDA66297 (1989)]