New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
A SOUVENIR OF GRIEG.

The trfnIe photogra oh reproduced this page is
q souzsnir OF a visit made by Grieg and his wife
TO their friend Julius Roentgen in Amsterdam in
1877 The picture peculiar appositeness just
now from the fact that the first afternoon con-
cert OF the Krleisel Quartet In Mendelssohn Hall
next Tuesday the two quartet movements which
Julius Rcentgen continued and completed from
sJetches left by rieg pla yed for the first
time IN New York. The first two movements OF
the quartet played at the second concert this
season at which time was ted the story OF how
the father OF the second vioinist Of the organza-
ton had put the finishing touches to these move
rnents and had supplied the remaining numbers
from themes found among the postaImous papers
Of the distinguished Norwegian composer. The pact-
Ure, VIII easily be guessed, represents MI ana
Mrs. Gr1eg and Mr.. Roenfgen-
II will not be the first time that Mr.. Roentgen's
name appears upon a New York programme
Though his activity has chiefly been given TO piano
forte playing he has made a mark in composition
rs well and in March 1895. Frank Damrosch put
three OF his ingenious and effective arrangements
OF old Netherlandish folksongs a programme OF
the Musical Art Society. He is now living IN Am
sterSara Both his parents were distinguished N
music The name indicates the German origin OF
the family. The father Of julius. Engelbert Roent-
gen was born Deventer, in Holland, close 10 tne
border HIS musical education was gained in Leip-
&c at the conservatory. He rose 10 eminence
ss violinist and became Ferdinand Devtds sue
cessor as concertmaster Of the Gewandhaus OF
chestra He married a painist, Fraulein hlengeL
also member OF the musical aristocracy Of Lep-
musical capital on May 9, 1850
He started out early his career as composer
and pianist travelled with Stockhausen in 1873 and
1874 and finally established himself in his 1athers
native land. Nine. (or'shall ii be Fru?) Greg was
the composers cousin her maiden name oeahg
Nina Haeerup, and she made quite reputation as
q singer especially of her husbands songs. before
she retired from publicity. They were married In
1861 after an engagement that endured three years
OF he- Mr. Henry T Finck says in his songs
and Song Writer'S: NINE. Grieg made her last
ruhIic appearance 1855 London. where she also
sang fer Queen Victoria at Windsor. Now she
sings only for her husband and his friends He
deeply regrets that so few had the opportunity TO
time he hardly realized her superiority to the av
eraee professional singer. It seemed 10 him mat
ter Of course that one should sing eoQuently. so
souIftt.ly as she did. Yet her talent was not
wasted It inspired Grieg to renewed efforts His
hest songs were written for her; they embody his
personsl feelings and he confesses that he could
40 more have stopped expressing them IN songs
than he could have stopped breathing. II is an in
,eresttne case showing how conjugal affection may
oe an tnspirsr Of the arts quite well as the ro-
rusntio love which precedes marriage
At the frst matinee. IN addition to the move
rents from the Gries quartet. the Kneisel Quartet
VII play with Willem Wfeke solofst- the
Beetboven quartet IN minor, Op. IS, No. 4; the
(-ore1f5 sonata in D minor. for violonoelo. and
Eusene D'AIbert's scherzo from the quartet in
fist major. Cp- Il