The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-04
KNEIsEL QUARTET CONCERT.
Firth Entertainment q the Series at Men.
deissehn Hall.


The Kneisel Quartet gave its fifth con-
cert last night at Mendelssohn Hall. The
programme consisted Of Tschaikowsky's
nat minor quartet, written In memory
OF Ferdinand Laub. the violinist; Georg
Henschel's song. -Adieu de l'Hotesse
Arabe, Bach's c major sonata for cello,
uhaccompanied; two folk songs, Fair Ellen =
and Faithful Johnnie with accompani-
ment OF piano. violin and cello by Bee
thoven, and Brahms's sextet for two vioins,
two violas and two 'cellos. opus SO. The
singer was H ,len Henschel, the pianist
0eorg Henschel, the second viola player
Max Zach and the second cellist j. Keller.
The kneisel audiences are loyal enough
now to satisfy the most exacting soul
They pour themselves into all the crannies
OF Mendelssohn Hall and they applaud
with palpable desire TO show their un-
failing good will. Yet they contrive to
make gradations In their manifestations
OF joy. and they made a subtle one last
night, They applauded Helen Henschel
sufficiently 10 insure her q recall, and then
they proceeded to give Alvin Schroeder.
the 'cellist Of the organization, such a
welcome when he appeared to play the
Bach sonata AZ to leave no doubt OF the com
PARSONS which dwelt In their minds.
IL Is difficult to conceive OF any good
artistic reason why singing should be inter-
jected into these lovely chamber music
concerts. We hear altogether too much
singing and most OF IL Ia discouraging-
not quito 30 much 40 as Miss Henschers.
to he sure, but still enough no to make us
wish that Il were rarer. The young lady's
delivery OF her fathers song was far from
inspiring either as an Interpretation or as
an exhibition Of technical accomplishment.
In HnnarhaI nj ha limo m
admirably. For that relief much thanks.
The two folk songs arranged by Beethoven
were interesting as curiositiee, for they
are seldom heard. but they are unimportant
and could easily be spared. The Kneisel
quartet should keep to its own beautiful
mission and hold its concerts sacred TO in
strumental chamber music.
Mr.. Schroeder's performance Of the
Bach sonata written really for viola POM
posa) was also interesting as q curiosity
The composition has all the earmarks Of
the wonderful old cantor of Leipzig, who
thought in music, and who never felt anxious
for a single instant as to whether he was
writing things hard to play A man has to
be a real virtuoso to perform such a COM
position, which Bach probably never con-
he had a family Of musicians and loved to
have concerts at home. Mr.. Schroeder
played it with q wealth Of tone and technic
quite masterful The audience knew II
was good and said 30 in the language OF
audiences.
The Tsohaikowsky quartet is one OF the
Russians most troublesome works, crowded
with intricate harmonic relations and with
cross rhythms. Probably the Kneisel gem
tlemen were q little nervous about the
first movement. for II did not flow with that
certainty which we look for in the art Of
these players. But after that they played
superbly. The scherzo went with remark
ably fine effect. while the tone tints In the
slow movement were autumnal in the
richness and variety OF their glory.
The Brahms sextet is one OF those com
positions OF which II Is impossible to write
adequately without rhapsodizing 1t Is,
AZ German once said about his own music.
too lovely 1t overpowers one with the
apparent simplicity Of its thought and the
marvellous art OF It's construction. 1t was
performed with admirable ensemble and
with warm sympathy by the six members
Of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. II
must he deli ghtful to belong to an orchestra
40 well supplied with chamber-music players
that they can be picked out anywhere
almost AT RI ndom