Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-26
Chamber Music.

About a century ago Vienna was a center of
musical power, its instrumental music sur
passed that of Paris and London. The masters
Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven were at work
there and their genius elevated many a lesser
talent into higher sphere and melted them to
fruitful activity. Performers were numerous
and excellent, including princes, nObles citi-
Zens and accomplished ladies. The line between
amateurs and professionals almost disappeared,
for music, and music of the highest standard had
permeated society. Princes supported orches-
tras, held musical reunions in their salons,
where musician and amateur met and were
joined in the performance by their entertainers.
In their more humble quarters the musicians
assembled, and here. too, the prince met the
fiddler and felt flattered to be allow ed to take
his seat at the desk beside him. There was one
''court-councillor and household-treasurer' who
had among the clerks of his bureau not one who
was not amus!cian, and some of them musicians
OF great distinction. Observation-Disclosures
will please take the hint. Some day, may be,
we shall have the Interior department furnish
the music at the inaugural and the State de-
partment that for the reception of the future
Rochambeaus and Steubens, the respective hon
| CRADLES; the Secretaries welding the baton with
their chief clerks at the timpani.)
The masters had early been convinced that an
important sphere for music was the social circle
Their oratOriOs. operas and symphonies which
at that time electrified the world, were of too
grand proportions so they wrote for fewer in
struments and in more simple style, and to do
this was evidently labor of love with them.
Everything appertaining to the private life of
| the court and the princes was designated by the
prefix Hammer" (chamber) as belonging to
the 'househOld." This music. at first having
been written for the private social performances
at court, was therefore designated as Examiner
musk, translated chamber music. As we have
done away with courts we might call it, retain
ing the intrinsic meaning of the foreign word
household music, home music This music,
trios quartets, &C., for different combinations
OF instruments, contains some of the most happy
expressions of musical thought, and in it we find
many master piece. The execution of it is the
goal the amateur should strive to attain. If it
does not require the deXterity of the virtuoso it
requires more intelligence. the excellence of the
performance depending chiefly on the tasteful
and intelligent rendition of the sentiments ex-
pressed.
In the United States the household music is
being largely cultivated, and we have had public
performances Of it by Thomas in New York
the Mendelssohn Quintet Club, in Boston, and
others. Here in Washington it has flourished in
the privacy of manya home circle Some twenty
musician implanted in his young pupils the love
OF this music. They have grown up and with
them their music, and many an enjoyable quar-
tet may to-day be heard at their homes. thanks
to Carusi. the teacher of their childhood. The
announcement is now made that we are to have
here this winter a series of ''Chamber music
concerts. The names of the perfOrmers-Ber-
| nays, GloetZner. Hoffman,. Sherman and
Szemeenyi-ought to do Justice to the music
offered. Their first program will contain gems
OF Beethoven. Schubert and Schumann.