Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Performance Of the Beethoven Quar-.
tet Club Last Week,
THE CAREER OF HANS Won BUELON
Another Celebrated Pianist Who Will Visit
Pittsburg Soon.
COMING CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL

The largest audience of the series gathered
TO hear the last chamber music recital of the
Beethoven Quartet Club, at the Pittsburg
Club Theater, last Thursday evening.
The programme was published last
week in this column and lack of space pre-.
vents its repetition, as lack of time (this
notice being written last though printed
hrsD prevents its review at a length COM
mensurate with its merits.
The ensemble work, taken all together,
has not been surpassed by any similar body
of local players. True, there was consid-
cradle unevenness in the Mozart andante,
the minuet was taken at q scherzo rate OF
speed and the intonation of the higher
strings was often far from immaculate.
But the Beethoven andante cantabile (from
the piano quartet. on. 16) was very smoothly
given. and the great Schumann quartet, op. AZ,
which closed the programme, was played with
much breadth. finish and fire.
Mr.. Ad. M. Foerster's new Trio, op. 29, was
also given an Interpretation of much ex-
cellence. 1t is regetted that the opportunity
must be passed of reviewing in detail this
strong and beautiful work of our leading home
composer. Suffice il 10 say that the first move
ment-a stormy allegro con brio. prefaced by a
somber unison introduction and interspersed
with finely contrasting melodc episodes-is
FULL of an intensely modern spirit, engrafted
upon and largely modifying the classical
sonata form form Inc Iarghetto g IS
grace, BIT of composition sure to please both
layman and connoisseur. Only these two move
ments were given: hut they sufhced to earn for
Mr.. Forester a brilliant ovation Of applause,
that compelled him to come out from the audi
ence and bow his acknowledgements.
Mrs. W. b. Wolfe sang her choice seIections
sweetly and purely, as usual. Her voice seemed
tired. however, and other slight evidences of
indisposition were present. Miss Agnes
tNOge s%; ACHIEVED genuine triHmPs
MARY Stuart's Farewell" Her rich and vel
vety voice and impassioned, artistic style nave
seldom, if ever appeared to greater advantage
Mr.. Retter, the moving spirit deserves all
honor for this most artisticaly delightful series
Of concerts.
The appearance of Hans Won Buelow in pi.
Rno recital at Old City Hall next Friday is one
of the prime events of the entire local season
The great little man has not been heard here
since his first appearance at old Library Hall in
1877. While his programme, which was printed
in this column last week, does not give as much
representation IS some would wish to the class
of playing of which Won Buelow is the most au-
thoritatiye exponent, it does give full opportu-
nifty for the display of his powers in q wide va
TieTy of schools and styles.
Bearing in mind that it was written ten wears
ago, the following excerpt from the American
Cyclop8dia gives a reliable summary of the
active career of this great musician, one of
ages of the age:
Hans Guido Won Buelow. a German pianist
and composer. born at Dresden, January g. 1890
His father, Karl Edouard Won Buelow (lSU7- i5S)
was novelist and poet. The son commenced
the study of music at an early age as an
amateur, being intended by his father for the
law; but as his tastes became more decided, he
finally, by the advice of Liszt and
at Berlin, and devoted himself to
music His father, displeased at this decision.
refused him support; but both Wagner and
List gave him assistance. the former obtaining
for him in 1850 the position of chief of orches-
ira of the theater of Zurich, where the operas
Tan uhaeuser" and "Lohensrin" were being
performed. In 1851 he went 10 Weimar and
studied the piano and composition for two
years under IisZt's S direction,
I'm 1852 he PLAYED for the first time in public
at a musical festival in Ballenstedt, and in the
same year bis overture TO Julius Cesar was
performed for the first time and he became
one of the editors of the Neue Zeitschrir fueT
Nusfk of Leipzig, advocating the progressive
succeeded Kullak as first professor of the
piano at the Berlin Conservatory in 1855
@ 4R 1851 he he married mar COsima natural
d'Asouit. In ISIS he % was aus apUolneed Oontesi
court pianist at Berlin. In 1864 he went to
Russia where be made great reputation as a
pianist and orchestral conductor. In 1867 he
became chapelnaster and director of opera to
the KING of Bavaria. His wife having deserted
HIM Tor Wagner, Won Buelow in 1863 obtained
divorce in the Bavarian Courts and in De-
cemher. 1870, she married his former friend.
''VOn Buelow's works are nearly so in mum.
Der, the most celebrated among them being his
overture and music to Julius Caesar" "The
Minstrels Curse" for orchestra, and "Nir-
wana." . composition founded an Indian
legend. Besides these he has composed
songs and choruses and numerous
pianoforte pieces, the most popular
of which have been transcriptious from Liszt
Wagner, Berlniz, Handel and Bach. As con-
ductor of orchestra he has no superior in
Europe. As pianist his only rival is Rubin
stein, since List no longer appears in the con-
cert room. An extraordinary characteristic of
the man is that he never plays his own compo-
BiIons in public"
Another unique personality will soon follow
the doughty DR.. Hans upon our concert stage.
Vladimir de Pachmann, who enjoys q great
European reputation as a Chopin PLAYER. will
be heard in Old City Hall on the 9th of Nav
Mr.. Joseph H. Cuttings is instrumental in
bringing both Of these pianistic celebrities to
our town.
While Pachmann's personal peculiarities and
sentimentalities have furnished grounds for
some adverse criticism, the general verdict of
the Ameucsn press thus far has amply con-
nrmed his transatlantic fame The last issue
OF the Musical Courier contains the following
clever editorial study of Pachmanns qualities:
1.-The born pianist is a born illusionist. He
makes YOU hear sustained tone by the aid of
his touch, pedaling and rhythlnical devices,
where none in reality Is. Vladimir de Pach-
mann is great illusionist; hence he plays the
piano in a manner that produces on the ears of
his listeners the effect of perfect legato.
Never in passages of rapid tempo has a virtuoso
preserved the illusion of legatisslmo such as
Mr.. de Pachmann does. His touch IS perfect,
judged by the ThalDerglan STANDARD. but one
we suspect that would be inadequate TO inter-
pret the bolder dramatic works Of latter-day
pianism.
Then, too,in addition.to a fabulously.smooth
technie, Pachmann has the temperament of
the SlaY. To hlm the mystic zal of Chopin is
no secret. He lays bare the palpitating rhythms
ana suDte melodies of most subtle poet with
asklll that can never be learned 1t is Unborn
The rubato. that stumbling block to amateurs
and artists alike, Pachmann has by nature,
and II at times it results in rhythmical confu-
sion it is the fault of our Western ears for
Eastern rhythms are sadly bewilderiug after
the metronomic accents Of Bach, Beethoven
OF Brahms
"Pachmann plays like poet, and as FREEZER
lex Niecks. the great Chopin authority saws. is
certainly the best exponent of certain phases
OF the Chopin literature we know of.
But Chopin does not please everybody
hence criticism is naturally engendered when
Pachmann's interpretations are in discussion.
Certes, he plays the preludes and etudes as few
living pianists do. and if the music and style is
trite rococo il is not his fault. 1t is the age
of specialization, and Pachmann is a Chopin
specialist and singularly fascinating stylish
The Allegheny Musical Association, Mr.. W.
A. Lafferty. conductor. gives its second con-
cert at Carnegie Music Hall next Thursday
evening. The engagement of Mr.. Clarence
Eddy. Of Chicago, gives our public the
Rrb paysd 4ank by and in 3 Do,sa sEsstss
of his powers Miss Helen Boice-Hunsicker,
the soprano, halls from New York; Miss Hattie
c. McLaIn, the contralto, from Boston. Miss
Grace Miller. soprano, AID Mr.. John A Bell,
accOmpanist. complete the local contingent
This IS the programme, to hear which the gen.
eral public as well as the associate members
can this time procure admission.
FIRST PART.
]. The Feast of Adonis "a cIntata) .....A. Jensen
First Soprano siiss Grace Miller; second
soprano, Miss Irene Sampl :cUntralto,
Miss Elsie U'Neu. Chorus and Or