The life and influence of Ludwig van Beethoven is generally classified as falling into both the Classical and Romantic periods in history. While firmly rooted in the Classical era, Beethoven's music was revolutionary for his time, breaking forms, creating styles, and introducing the world to the Romantic era. The Trio. Op 70/1  is written for piano, violin, and cello and it is a representative of Beethoven's "Middle" stylistic period (1803-1812) The tensions in post-French Revolution politics, society, and his own personal life were translated into some of the greatest musical works in history.

Doubtless the most shattering influence on Felix Mendelssohn was the late style of Beethoven, which washed over a generation of musicians coming of age in the 1820s.  The Trio Op. 49 was completed on 23 September 1839  and published the following year. The work is scored for a standard piano trio consisting of violin, cello and piano. The trio is one of Mendelssohn's most popular chamber works. During the initial composition of the work, Mendelssohn took the advice of a fellow composer, Ferdinand Hiller, and revised the piano part. The revised version was in a more romantic, Schumannesque style with the piano given a more important role in the trio. Indeed, the revised piece was reviewed by Schumann who declared Mendelssohn to be "the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most illuminating of musicians