Over the centuries, the piano trio has gained a repertoire of exceptional size and richness; works written for this genre include some of the greatest of all chamber works. The first study devoted solely to the piano trio, this book reviews the development of the trio in different countries within the context of general music history, and shows how it has reflected changes in style and technique from Mozart and Haydn to the avant-garde composers of today. Smallman focuses on the principal works in the trio repertoire, and trovides clear analytical descriptions supplemented by musical examples.