A reed trio, also called a trio d’anches, is a group of three reed instruments: oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Both terms can also describe a musical piece written for this group.

History

The reed trio has a more recent history than the wind quintet. The wind quintet began in the early 1800s, but the first known reed trio composition was written in 1897 by French composer Ange Flégier. The reed trio is the second most popular woodwind chamber ensemble, after the wind quintet, and has a large number of original compositions. The reed trio became more established in the late 1920s by bassoonist Fernand Oubradous, oboist Myrtile Morel, and clarinetist Pierre Lefèbvre, who formed the Trio d’Anches de Paris. Many original compositions for the reed trio were written for Oubradous’ group and another contemporary ensemble, the Trio d’Anches René Daraux (René Daraux, oboe; Fernand Gossens, clarinet; Ange Maugendre, bassoon). Professional reed trios that have made commercial recordings include the Saarland Radio Wind Trio, Ensemble Trielen, Trio Lézard, the Cavell Trio, Trio d’Anches de Cologne, Trio d’Anches Hamburg, Trois Bois, Trio d'Anches de Monte-Carlo, Zagreb Wind Trio, and Ocotillo Winds.

Oiseau-Lyre Wind Trios

Several French composers helped create some of the earliest music written for a reed trio. These composers include Darius Milhaud, Jacques Ibert, Georges Auric, and Henry Barraud. Their works are part of the Oiseau-Lyre Wind Trio Collection, which contains seven compositions. These pieces were created because of the formation of the well-received Trio d’anches de Paris in the 1930s. Louise Hanson-Dyer worked with the Trio d’anches de Paris to publish and record the music through her company, Éditions de l’Oiseau-Lyre.

List of reed trios by country

• Salvador Ranieri [es], Sonata Trío (1960)
• Juan María Solare, Anche (2002)
• Juan María Solare, Soundtrack for an Imaginary Cartoon (2025). Movements include: Animated Animation, Whimsical Capers, Shenanigans, Unnoticed, as Planned, On the Sly, Home Office, Tongue in Cheek, A Hint of Longing, Lucky Wheel, High Spirits.
• Lior Navok, Jongleurs (2024)
• Fulvio Caldini, Guillaume, Op. 10 (1983)
• Toma Prošev, Četiri eseja

Reed trio with accompanying instruments

• Henri Tomasi composed Divertimento Corsica for a reed trio, string instruments, and a harp in 1952.

• Dai Fujikura composed Phantom Splinter in 2009.