Schindler says Beethoven wrote this when he was 15 (1785), mose scholars seem to dismiss this claim, accepting instead that it dates from 1791. Scholars debate whether this was intended to be a part of Opus 1, the set of Piano Trios. It does feature some firsts: Beethoven's first Scherzo, warm and gentle if overlong, and one of Beethoven's first codas at the end of a Sonata: a sonata which is charming and light, with a few treats, one being that very coda. The Rondo, an odd mixture of the brilliant and the lyrical - a la Mozart - has some interesting moments, particularly its ending. Throughout, there are few real melodies beyond the opening and the instruments seldom get the chance to shine: the work is piano-heavy. Beyond that, there also isn't the surety in switching from one topic to another that is a feature of Mozart or later Beethoven. Rather, one feels as if the work is awash in figuration, seeming like a minor work of Clementi, one lacking in excessive ornament. I like the piece, but I can understand how it could be frustrating.
Mislabelled as WoO 39 in the Brilliant Classics set.
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