New-York tribune., 1905-11-22
MUSIC.
The KneiseI Quartet.

The KnelseI Quartet of Boston it was for thirteen
years. Last night it began its fourteenth season
(and though no mention made Of the facp as
the Kneisel Quartet of New-York. The change oi
residence on the part of Mr.. Kneisel and MS com
panions is likely TO have any effect upon thelr
playing and, so far this season is concerned AT
least will not add to the local publics sum OF 'hat
exalted artistic delight which the rare company Oh
artists have provided for so long and happy a
period; but that they fellow townsmen OF
the finest body music lovers that the rnetropolls
contains hope can be cherished that they will be
heard oftener in the future than they have oeen III
the past. In the welcome which they resolved
when they came upon the platform last night there
seemed to sound note Of local pride gentler
audience Mendelssohn Hall has never housed That
1t was not more numerous than the gatherings or
last season and of several seasons past was due 70
the fact that then the caDacity OF the room
taxed its uttermost. The logical result OF
this lovely demonstration OF interest in the purest
form OF music is larger number of concerts, not
q larger room in which to give them The intimacy
which is essential TO the enjoyment Of the form
would be dssipated in a larger room.
Last nights list OF pieces began with one OF the
least familiar of Beethovens quartets that in the
key Of F minor which bears the opus number 20
After it came Saint-Saenss Trumpet septet, and
to make an exquisite end there came Schunann $
Quartet in y major, op. Al. NO. 5 The propheuc
imagination which sees too deeply too darkiy' 100
dstantly be happy. looks with large eyes out OF
the Beethoven quartet A tragic veil Is over II;
sorrow broods in Unless it be played so that
technical finish and poetical Interpretation go manu-
in hand, its beauties must remain hidden from 'Ie
many. At the outset it seemed as II there might
be some vague cropping last night, but when the
allegretto movement burst like opening bud into
the second allegro all doubts and quesuohlhsS
vanished and there nothing left but exquisite
enjoyment of the strangely individual and beautlni
proclamation. Thereafter the Knesel Quartet was
wholly itself as it was in the familiar Schumann
piece at the close OF the evening
For the septet Messrs. Knesel, Theodrowlcz'
syecensh and Schroeder were reinforced by Mr..
Harold Randolph of Baltimore (pianoforte), Mr.
AdoIphe Dubois, OF the New-York Symphony Or
chestra (trumpet}, and Mr.. L. E Mano!y, of the
same organization double bass). The composition
is q product of the ingenious. music making mood
which Saint Saens used TO indulge In his younger
years-an echo of the olden time, but not so pro-
found an echo that which sounds in the intro
duction TO the C minor pianoforte concerto and
the setting Of the Eighteenth Psalm PianoIorte
and strings play in careless dalliance with the
companion so seldom admitted into their company,
and rejoice in his unaccuston1ed speech.
The Old forms are reverted to for his sake. min
uet and gavotte come back with their old rhythlns
If is not music of a large mould deeply sig
nifcant spirit, but music which reJolces IN i's
own vivacity and sturdy prettiness After the
ha1atons Of Beethoven and Schumann seemed
somewhat dissonant but it provided bracing and
cheerful moment while it lasted. 1t was gwen
With splendid verve all its rhythms crispiy' lts
fuu spirit unfa gg1ngly maintained and thoush
1r T)uboig made the almost inevitable slips his
tone was nicely modulated and his execution ao-
r,irabIe Dash precision and lucdity marked the
playing Of Mr.. Randolph The music caIeo ioi
ii;++2 e1so H. E K