New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-06
MUSIC.
Concert By the KneiSel Quartet.

The third concert Of the KneiseI Quartet, OF Boss
ton. which took place in Mendessohn Han last
night. was devoted TO a peculiarly effective pres
eutation OF Old and conceptions OF chamber
music. Tho programme embraced three numbers
Tschaikowsky's string quartet in major. op. 2:
Bach's concerto IN D minor for two violins. and
Svendsen's octet in A. op. 5. for four vioins two
y!olas and two violoacellos. 1t was AL "consort
for vols" as a recorder OF the Ellzabethan period
would have said but varied were the styles %
thought and modes OF expression represented that
it is doubtful II that fact came into the minds Of
many listeners until the concert was over and
the incidents OF a thoroughly delightful evening
were passed IN review.
Modern natIonaIism was represented IN ths
scheme in the quartet. a composition Of somewhat
uneven quality and much less spontaneity than
either OF It's companions It's Russian character
istics are most pronounced in the first two move
ments the first OF which contains much hoisterous
reiteraton OF short motives and something OF that
ruGeness and even Uncouthness which mark the
conduct OF a vast people on whom the veneer OF
social convention does not sit easily. In the jocoSs
second movement two of the elements OF Muscoyts
-rnusic-abrupt alterations OF rhythm anu
reckless gayety-are exempuhed Its Inspiration -
the folk-dance. In the third movement. an an
dante the composer takes iofuer Hight anu
proclams beauty OF the universal type out IL 'n'
last he falls again into a dance vein. ana
causes a little bewiderment by his employ
ulent OF something closely resembling ms
TO which he reverted IN one Of tbs su0siSaIy
themes OF the symphony. which proved 10 % -
mournfuI swan song. There are bright Hlo4ISN
in the work but melancholy broods over u as
whole and makes 1t truthful redectloA OF I'
spirit OF Russian music. Mr.. hnelSeL ana MS SOA
panions played the quartet with tine variety -
nuance and nice appreciation OK us AEe@A-'---'
changing moods. but not wholly without eOhs'Ii'-.
as II their minds were too persistently occup1'
with the giving out OF the notes There was Mons
~ this incubus upon the concluding octet BY ths
Scandinavian Svendsen. who never permitted 'nS
nationalist to obscure the musician. bur was coa
tent 10 make beautiful music solely and simply loE
the sake OF beautiful music. The composition, IN
which Messrs. kneisel. TheOdorowicz, SvecensA
and Schroeder had the help OF Messrs- A Mol-
dauer w Kraft. Carl Riesland and J. Keller OF
the Boston Orchestra, was played with SUPERB
apiomb and finish and brought an evening or de-
lights 10 n excited close
Between the music OF the modern Russian ana
Scandinavian came the double concerto by Bach-
Archaic music? Yes; so far as the flight OF ums
and change OF fashion IN the forms can MAKE
music archaic But the beauty OF this wolA
would seem to be for all time. 1t was needed thas
a. should bs heard under conditions Ike those OF
last night: with the solo parts played by t~o
superbIy equipped artists like Messrs knelsel ana
Theodorowicz. and the accompaniment or srna4
string orchestra The solo players had won their
vrov 10 The inmost heart OF the composition.
Wrought ou1 every contour Of its lovely melodies
seized upon the charm OF every harmony eausnS
mn ira spirt OF unity and learned to body II IoI't
with an elasticity and spontaneity that pre'eh'S-
all Thought of reelection. agreement and LABOR HuH'
obtruding itself. The slow movement Win -
melody which. by unexplained ana insNP4-1
coincidence the youthful Mendeissohh eSHosG - -
the coda OF his overture TO "A Midsummer NlsH.'
Dream" and the dying Weber moulded SIM -.
ousIy into the song OF the mernalGs IA
'NOberon.'' was transporting in It's beauty. a ~
want through the audience. too. wneh N 1No
,,overn.nt Messrs. Knetsel and Theodoro"lc- - -.
TITO the scintilIant cadenza with Whlch u's -
uaIr,ssberKer enriched the work Mention W.
r,ads OF this cadenZa when the SO"
US plaved with pianoforts accompaniment -
ErA,ssl Quartet concert in BrooAlyn- II
astontshinc tour de force on the part OF In7 -
noser with onIy one feature that may %
- civ. the critical listener pause. u $50
WIDELY from the style Of the Work "h-eH =
designed TO embeIlish. especially IN INC S-o ,rvs
| accompaniment pizzicato to the theme OF S,..~-s
r,ovaroent The effect is beautrG4 oul 80
u,Iass one chooses 10 think that HeIniss -.
designed the effect to suggest the arpesslO ~.
harpsichOrd which in the oiden ule p11y r,s
continue I'm compositions OF this eaafao w,s
orchestra which accompanied the concern ~,
connosed OF the Boston musicians eraployeu Irors
svendsen Octet and Ave musicians nom W. u.l,
viz. Messrs Names. SaslavsAy. flesi@'''
wasser and Mandy.