Trio in E-flat major for Piano, Clarinet (or Violin) and Viola (K.498) (Kegelstatt) (Score & Parts)

Mozart Trio in E-flat major for Piano, Clarinet (or Violin) and Viola (K.498) (Kegelstatt) (Score & Parts)

According to an unauthenticated anecdote, Mozart is said to have composed the E-flat major Trio K.498 for piano, clarinet and viola while playing skittles – hence the nickname “Kegelstatt” (“Skittle-alley”) Trio.  In chronological proximity – the “Skittle-alley Trio” is entered in the autograph list of works under 5 August – are the twelve Duets for two wind instruments K.487 (496a), on the autograph of which Mozart has observed, “Vienna, 27 July 1786 while playing skittles”; it is therefore quite possible that the anecdote has various interpretations, as it cannot be rejected out of hand that work on the Trio K.498 at least also partly resulted from one of these special meetings of Mozart’s circle of friends.

- Urtext of the New Mozart Edition