Trio

Throughout his composing career, Dotzauer experimented with a plethora of chamber music settings: from the most basic solo instrument with piano accompaniment to the string quartet (25 exemplars), from solo woodwind with string trio to quartet with two cellos and several vocal settings. One piece, though, was missing to make his puzzle complete: a chamber piece where the piano would’ve been the main actor. Dotzauer eventually completed his quest with the last chamber piece he would ever write, in 1851 (aged 68): a majestic Trio for piano, violin, and cello (Op. 180). This monumental, 32-minute-long piece in four movements, is dedicated to his elder son Bernhard (1808-74), piano virtuoso and chamber music teacher in Hamburg from 1835. Dotzauer’s passion for counterpoint that traverses all his production can be found here as well, especially in the Finale whose theme is based on a fugue. The third movement, then, shows a usage of harmony whose chromaticism predates much more blazoned composers by about 25 years. This should come as no surprise, though: Dotzauer was first solo cello in the Dresden Court Opera where both Wagner’s Rienzi and The Flying Dutchman were premiered (1841-2). His curiosity and talent for writing did the rest. This edition represents the first modern publication of the Trio, and includes a detailed introduction and analysis alongside Critical Notes that list all editorial choices. The separate string parts include the original bowing and fingering suggestions by Dotzauer.