Chamber Music in the Early Twentieth Century: Features of Aram Khachaturian’s Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano in G Minor and Béla Bartók’s Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano

Abstract

Abstract The beginning of the twentieth century saw the intensified development of chamber music, and trios deploying the clarinet, violin and piano gained growing popularity because of the unique ensemble produced by these instruments working in synergy. Against this background of chamber music, this dissertation aims to examine the key features of Aram Khachaturian’s Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano in G Minor and Béla Bartók’s Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, and discuss specific approaches to the rehearsing of clarinet, violin and piano trios. More specifically, this dissertation addresses the major features of Khachaturian’s Trio and Bartók’s Contrasts with an emphasis on the composers’ unique manipulation of rhythms and folk melodies in their pieces. Moreover, effective rehearsal techniques conducive to the satisfactory performance of a violin, clarinet and piano trio are also expounded in this research. By synthesizing musical features and rehearsing approaches, this thesis intends to provide theorists and practitioners with more insights regarding the performance of Khachaturian’s Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano in G Minor and Bartók’s Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet and Piano.