Józef Koffler was the first and for a long time the only composer in Poland who joined the European avant-garde and made use of the Schönbergian 12-note technique, combining it with both expressionist and neo-classical styles.
The String Trio op. 10, written in Striy and Lvov in 1928, was Koffler’s first mature work, and the first chamber piece that he included in his catalogue. It was also the piece that brought him international recognition: chosen for the 9th ISCM Festival (International Society for Contemporary Music), with Alban Berg on the jury, it was published by Universal Edition and premiered at Oxford in 1931.
The trio employs 12-note technique and is based on the series A–G#–E–G–F#–D–Eb–F–Bb–Db–C–B. All three movements refer to classical forms: I. Sonata; II. Triple-fugue; III. Rondo.
The Trio was recorded by the Ebony Band October 2009 and released on a Channel Classics cd 'Polish Masterworks' (CCS 31010) in 2010.