Trio in Eb major, Op.40

Description

Johannes Brahms wrote this Horn trio in May 1865 in Lichtental near Baden-Baden.  Lichtental was where Brahms spent the summer months of the years 1864-66 as well as some summers in his later years.

He took up residence there on 1 May 1865.  A notorious "fresh-air composer," Brahms conceived his musical ideas during his long morning walks in the picturesque Black Forest mountains, then notated them later and elaborated them with his typical thoroughness.  The Horn Trio is also one of the works inspired by the lovely nature surrounding Baden-Baden., as one can read in the memoirs of Brahms's friend Albert Dietrich : "Once, as Brahms and I were wandering among the pine groves along the wooded heights near Baden-Baden, he showed me the spot where the theme of the first movement from this work had first come to him."