Sergei Rachmaninov composed his Piano Trio No 1 while he was still a student. It caused a sensation at its first performance but then the music was lost and was only rediscovered after Rachmaninov’s death. It features the sweeping melodies and depth of feeling for which the composer was well known for in his later works.
The Trio’s opening theme is a repetitive four-note rising motif, that played backwards apparently resembles the opening motif of Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto. As a student Rachmaninov was heavily influenced by Tchaikovsky and this may well have been intended as an homage to his older friend and mentor.
