Trio (music)


In music, a trio is a method of instrumentation or vocalization by three different sounds or voices to make a melodious music or song.

Instrumental or vocal ensemble

In general, "trio" denotes a group of three solo instruments or voices. The term is also used to describe a composition for such a group. The most common types of such compositions are the "piano trio"—piano, violin and cello—and the "string trio"—violin, viola and cello. In vocal music, the term "terzet" is sometimes preferred to "trio".
From the 17th century onward the word "trio" is used to describe a contrasting second or middle dance appearing between two statements of a principal dance, such as a minuet or bourée. This second dance was originally called a "trio" from the 17th-century practice of scoring it for three instruments, for example two oboes and bassoon. Later examples continued to be referred to as trios, even when they involved a larger number of parts.
In the 18th century, the term "trio" was also used to describe any instrumental composition for three unaccompanied musical strands, regardless of the number of instruments actually involved. Trios for a single keyboard instrument are found in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, for example his organ trios, BWV 525–30, and three-part inventions, or Sinfonias, BWV 787–801.
"Trio" also occurs in the name for the musical form trio sonata, which was popular in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
A trio sonata is written for two solo melodic instruments and basso continuo, making three parts in all, hence the name trio sonata. However, because the basso continuo is usually made up of at least two instruments, performances of trio sonatas typically involve at least four musicians.

Common forms

The most common forms of trio are :
Other types of trio include :