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What instruments make up a piano trio?
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chamber music
Joseph Haydn conducting a string quartet.
In the context of chamber music, a standard piano trio is an ensemble composed of a piano, a violin, and a cello.12
This instrumentation became popular during the 18th century as the piano became more widely available, allowing composers to create a fuller and more varied musical texture. Notable examples of works written for this combination include those by Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, and Maurice Ravel.1