- Brahms wrote his Clarinet Trio a minor in 1891. Interestingly, just a few months prior, at the end of 1890, the composer had written to his publisher that he was retiring from composing. Many speculate that he made an exception for this late chamber piece due to his close relationship with clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld (to whom the trio is dedicated).
- This relationship between the two musicians also inspired Brahms’ subsequent work: his Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115.1
- Clarinet Trio a minor was originally scored for clarinet, cello, and piano. However, Brahms also arranged the piece for viola, cello, and piano.
- Four movements:
- Allegro
- Adagio
- Andantino grazioso
- Allegro2
Sources
- Katharina Loose Einfalt, “Preface: Clarinet Trio a minor op. 114 for Piano, Clarinet (Viola) and Violoncello,” G. Henle Verlag (2017), accessed April 17, 2026, https://www.henle.de/en/Clarinet-Trio-a-minor-op.-114-for-Piano-Clarinet-Viola-and-Violoncello/HN-1125.
- “Clarinet Trio, Op.114 (Brahms, Johannes),” IMSLP, accessed April 17, 2026, https://imslp.org/wiki/Clarinet_Trio,_Op.114_(Brahms,_Johannes).
Cut IDs
28150 11234 16895 19684