The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-19

Out and About


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Louis G. Elson, musical critic of the
Boston Advertiser, has this to say of
/ concert in Boston by the Kneisel quar-
( tet, at which two of the principal num-
I bers on the program of the quartet at
i its concert in Worcester Thursday night
were played:
! Then followed a violin and piano
sonata, Brahms Op. 100, played by Mrs.
Kneisel and Miss Lolita Mills. In this
work Brahms, the cscetic, is absolutely
melted away, and Brahms, the genial,
takes his place. The work Is almost an
eclogue
Daintiness and simplicity breathe even
in the first measures, yet there Is great
ingenuity displayed even under the in
genuousness; if it is not "cannons bu-
ried in flowers" as was once said of a
Chopin work, it is at least mute in
glorious Milton" or a "guiltless Crom-
well'' who is engaging in the rustic
measures.
The groups of five measures, caused
by quaint repetition of the last mem
Der Of each four measured phrase give
an enchanting effect, and the combina-
ton of two dissimilar rhythms when
the subordinate theme enters, Is as
charming as it is skilful
There is direct melody here as well
and we are sorry for those anti-Brahms-
ties who cannot find the spell of abse-
Lutte beauty in such a work The art of
contrast, too, finds its highest express
sion in this sonata, for not only do the
Scherzo and the Andante continually
alternate their effect, but in the finale
there is a similar foil found between a
beautiful strain of clear melody and a
dark and sombre subject which runs
beside it.
One might rhyme the work thus
Two rivers flows their courses,
Each to the other near,
But one is dark and sombre,
The other sweet and clear.
And once I thought those rivers
In some fair vale might meet;
The clear be made more noble
The darker made more sweet.
Their waters may not mingle,
Their currents may not blend,
Until they reach the ocean,
Until their journeys end.
But oh, the long, long windings
Ere the waves may reach the sea!
And oh, the weary waiting
Ere my love may come to thee.
For, after all, there is a love-song in
| this sonata, and the old Viennese bach
elor was never a misogynist.
The playing of Miss Mills was COM
| mendable in balance and in it's surety.
The piano blended we'll with the violin
and there was an evident comprehen-
| sion of the great work on the part Of
both artists. That Mr.. KneisePs per-
Torrance was effective goes without
saying.
The concert ended with one of the
earlier Beethoven quartets, the one
in B fiat, Op Is, No. 8. A good and
noble finale to an enjoyable program.
| Clear in shape and great in contents,
these quartets probably appeal to more
| people than the far more subtle and
| suggestive works in this form with
| which Beethoven closed his career.
The C sharp minor may be more gil
| gantic, but the whole set of opus IS is
| more enjoyable.
Of the remaining numbers of the
program Thursday night it is per-
! haps onlv necessary to add that the
| Bach sonata without accompaniment
| is being played by Mr. Schroeder, except
here this winter, and the Dvorak num-
| Der is new The Brahms sonata for
violin and piano is played on Thursday
night for the first time in Worcester
! The children of the Dix street kin
dergarten have sent out pretty invita-
tons for their Christmas tree Friday
morning at 10 o'clock The invitations
are sealed with silver stars and deco
rated with sketch in colored crayons
Of group of babies toddling under
London bridge"
| The next meeting of the Chamberlain
| District Farmers club will be held at
Applecroft, the residence of b. w. Pot
ter, on Thursday evening, when Miss
Frances c. Morse will speak on "Colo-
NAL homes and their furnishings
0. B. Wood is chairman of the pro-
gram for the ladies' night at the Com
monwealth club, tomorrow, which will
| consist OF selections by the Arion La
dies Musical club of Boston and by
/ Curtis G. Morse of Boston, humorist.
The entertainment committee which
has in charge the two concerts an
nounced by the Friday Morning club.
| LII jail Il anu Il 6D. rs, taxes pleasure
in announcing that the tenor has been
secured for the first concert, when I'm
| the Persian Garden" will be given.
| Theodore Van YORK, who will be re-
membered for his great success at the
| last festival, has been engaged, and this
| completes a quartet of artists such as
| Worcester has never heard sing here.
except during the festival 1t now con-
| sists of Mrs. S. C. Ford Miss Mar
| guerite Hall, Theodore Van YORK and
| Ericsson BUSHNELL with Victor Harris
as conductor and accempanist For the
second concert but one artist Is secured.
A program given by DePachmann re-
] quires no other performer.
Subscriptions may be obtained at
Steinert's and Of any active member of
the Friday Morning Club.
| About this time O. the year, remem-
Der the ladies at the Home for Aged
Women. Some have friends who
think of them every Christmas, but
others are last survivors of once large
families, and Santa Claus somehow
| forgets to fill their stockings. Gifts
/ for the ladies and articles for the
| Christmas dinner would be highly an
! preciated. 1t only needs a reminder
for people to respond for the Home for
| Aged Women is a favorite in the city.
The Sunday school of the Church Of