As a composer, Brahms was always concerned about being compared with Beethoven. He didn't feel that he was Beethoven's equal, and he was endlessly tormented by feelings of inferiority.

Brahms doubted his own talents and merits so much that he didn't allow several of his early works to be published. Not content with that, he also destroyed numerous manuscripts. And today, it's easy, but also frustrating, to speculate on what masterpieces Brahms decided weren't worthy to be preserved.

An early work that did survive, although in a much later major revision, is the Piano Trio in B major, op. 8. Brahms' first foray into chamber music, it was published when the composer was only 21, but it is without question one of the great works in the repertoire.

"The Brahms B major is one of the top five among piano trios," said Joel Rosenberg, violist in the trio. In his opinion, the work has a special place in the literature alongside the trios by Mendelssohn and Schubert. "It's one of the great works in the medium."

As anyone who has ever attended a concert by the Paradigm Trio knows, this isn't your typical piano trio. The customary cello is replaced by a viola, which alters the sound but doesn't diminish the overall experience. Others in the trio are Kelly Parkinson, violin, and Jed Moss, piano.

One drawback with the Paradigm's makeup is that the available literature is limited. But Rosenberg transcribed the B major Trio a number of years ago and has played it locally several times with considerable success.

Also on the program is Beethoven's Trio in C minor, op. 1, no. 3. Rosenberg noted that when Beethoven wrote the three works in the op. 1 set in 1794, the piano-trio genre was new. "He took the medium and proceeded to write something that hadn't been heard before. The piano is used in a different way, and there is a distinct independence among the instruments."

He said that when Haydn heard it, he reportedly commented, "This is not music to charm the aristocracy."

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If you go . . .

What: Paradigm Trio

Where: First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East

When: Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

How much: $8 suggested donation (for Methodist Worldwide Mission)

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E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com