Piano Trio No.43 in C major Hob.XV:27

This Trio is the
result of Haydn’s second visit to London in
1794-1795, in many ways the high point
of his career. In both visits he was feted as never before, received by royalty
and his works acclaimed by enthusiastic audiences. One of his London
acquaintances was a young pianist of German birth but settled in London, Therese Jansen.
She had studied with Clementi and was considered to have been one of his finest
pupils. Haydn was witness at her wedding in May 1795. He wrote three piano
trios for her as well as two piano sonatas and judging by these works she was
clearly a considerable pianist.

We need to bear in
mind that piano trios prior to the dramatic intervention of Beethoven’s Op.1
were described in contemporary editions as sonatas
for pianoforte with accompaniments for a violin and violoncello. They were
also written for an almost entirely amateur public consisting mostly of
pianists and Haydn could see there was a substantial market for this music in England. So his
London Trios are all written in a popular style which imported effects from
folk and dance music to rub shoulders with the refinements of more learned
styles.

The C major Trio
has a weighty sonata form first movement with an adventurous development
section which screws up the tension remorelessly before the release of the recapitulation.
The bouyancy of the leaping opening theme and the cascades of notes that follow
give us the impression that Therese Jansen must have been a bright and witty
young lady. This is born out by the zanily humorous finale which demands a
particularly alert player. The gentle and melodious Andante speaks for itself.