The San Francisco call., 1909-01-04
String Quartet Makes
Good Impression
at Recital
BY Walter Anthony

In the wide realm of music the string
quartet is the aristocratie body. It's
province is as far from the plebian
territory called ~ragtime~ as Pacihc
avenue is from Pacific street. let rs
say. and its kingdoms boundaries are
on the remote frontier from the in
habitants OF musical comedy land. The
first violin is king and the second. of
course. is queen, the viola is a soft
spoken courtier and the cello is the
treasure keeper and the main support.
Only the piano invades the land with
safety, but with its tempered scale it is
cut of sorts with the sensuous CONF
pany of the rulers of the realm. beside
whom its hues are white and gray
That's enough of figure and metaphor.
win L. Greenbaum is trying to make.
chamber music popular. Yesterday.
was his first effort and 1t was meas
urably successful. Lyric hall was
nearly filled. The back rows were en-
tirely occupied. though the front rows
were not. and the applause which came
from the students in the rear was the
expression of their understanding and
appreciation.
Greenbaum's lyric string quartet is
billed for a. series of four recitals. of
which yesterdays was the first. He is
bringing the best of music to those who
want it for the smallest OF price; the
maximum of values for the minimum of
cost. In short. his Sunday afternoon
recitals are bargains not TO be ignored
and musicians generally should be sue
cessful and finally be what they are
not now-remunerative TO Pioneer
Greenbaum.
THREE NUMBERS PRESENTED
There were three numbers presented
yesterday The first was MOzart's 5
Twelfth quartet, the second a sonata
by Tartini, for violin and piano. and
the third, the most applauded Of the
three. was Sindings quintet, Op. 5, in
which Mrs. Oscar Mansfeldt appeared
and took the chief honors at the piano.
Sinding's quintet is large work on
modern lines. It's first movement is
mainly piano with string quartet ac-
compartment; its second is modelled
closer to classic lines; it's third is a
sprightly intermezZo with a dance
movement suggestive of country sport.
and its final is a mighty Tightening Of
previous themes and a splendid study
of dissonance and dynamics Mrs.
Mansfeldt played her part with pre-
cision and vigor. In spite of the limi-
tations which hamper a tempered scale
set side by side with the warmth of
viols her tone was warm and vibrant
and her reading mastery.
MOZART WE'LL PLAYED
Mozart's sunny music was sympathet-
ically played by the members of the
quartet. who showed a surprising
amount of unanimity Of idea, and who
kept well together. The andante
movement was particularly fine. Such
moments-as were inevitable-where
the balance Of tone was destroyed by
too much enthusiasm here or too much
reticence there. were the results Of a
new organization. Perfection of at
tack, balance and rhythmic agreement
are not acquired at once. William Hoff-
man. first violin; j. A. Paterson. second.
y. Firestone, viola. and W. Villalpando,
violonceIlist, deserve great credit for
| their uniformly excellent work and for
the musicianship with which they
played.
Hoffman's playing of Tartini's archaic
sonata was good. He draws a true tone.
which lacks at times clarity; his left
hand is competent and usually sure, and
| his double stopping is harmonious and
| firm. His selection lacked the emo
| tional content which ancient music
| usually wants. but he played with in
sight and sympathy the theme and the
pretty variations which Tartini called
| a sonata Ormay's accompaniment was
analytical and good. The next recital
/ by the quartet will be Sunday after
noon, January 81.