New-York tribune., 1908-02-05
MUSIC.
THE. KNEISEL QUARTET.

II would be difficult to classify him who could
| pick serious quarrel with the programme OF the
| third concert of the KneiseI Quartets sixteenth
New York season. which took place IN Mendeis-
sohn Hall last night. Nothing further than to at
tempt to do In the minds of the listeners
The patrons OF the quartet knowing folk.
though gentle and courteous. All phases of taste
except that which Is bad1 have representation
among them and every evangel receives their
spectfui and judcious attention Unfsing is their
courtesy yet there is that i their applause which
marks kinds as weil degrees OF appreciation. In
obedience to a policy which Is generous as II Is
commendable Mr. Kneisei cares for IL that In the
course Of the whole field OF chamber
music from the utra-classica to the ultra-rnodern
has representation. When an example In the latter
class has been brought forward which made little
or no appeal to the majority OF the listeners. tt has
sometimes happened that they have politely
pressed their appreciation OF the performance and
then placed themselves on record In respect OF
their artistic creed by giving a double. triple or
quadruple measure of applause to the Haydn.
Mozart. Beethoven Schurnann number which
came later
Last night. though there was music OF to-day.
yesterday and OF earlier generation in the list
or pieces. all of IL unistakab1e pleasure
hearers The concert began with quintet for three
vtons viola and vloloncelo. by Charles VI. Loeffer
The work was written some eighteen years ago. be-
fore Mr. Loeffer's dreams tinctured with the
exotic harmonies OF the youngest French school,
and when he was willing stiIl 10 be guided by
imagnings OF the relationships between the arts OF
music and literature. Il is in movement. but
embodied in the movement the divisions which
give expression TO the contrasting moods found IN
older and newer works which employ pauses as
lines OF dernarcat!on.
1t also enforces unity Of purpose by use Of the
matte material throughout: but this Is de-
vice and may be found in the orthodox four-num-
oered composition II is unique In that (;
aside the extra viola viooncello Of the old string
quintet combination favor OF third vfon
an interesting experiment with a happy result
especially in the lighter portions Of the work
Mixed with the theruatic material of the cornpos-
ers invention at least Russian melody, an
exquisite folk-soua entitled 'Notchka." which NI-
LoeffieT has also used with lovely effect hts
concert piece for solo violin and orchestra entitled
Ukraine" There II speaks with all burden OF
melancholy; but in the quintet II dons antic
disposition. and. with quickened tempo and the
major mood it tells OF happiness like that OF the
vernal season. There is much seriousness and
solidty in the part writing and not few stirring
effects in which the volume OF sound given out By
the FIVE instruments is surprising Mr.. Artur
Argtewicz assisted Messrs. Kneisel, ROentgen.
svecenshd and wIneke In the performance. which
aroused cordial enthusiasm.
The two other numbers in the scheme Men,
delssohn's quartet In D major Op. "A. No. I. and
Brahms's pianoforte quartet in A. Op. IS in which
Mr.. Stojowss helped Mr Kneisei and hts fellows.
Is Mendeissohn antiquated7 Neither the perform
the audience seemed to think last night
The gladsome music seemed 70 wake echo In
every heart and called up the question IT, In the
lgned romantic Journalist might not again come
into his own The Brahms quartet crowned the
evenings delights and Mr. stojowski won a fra
grant guerdon for a performance OF the pianoforts
part which caressed the strings and by them
caressed IN turn H Z. K