New-York tribune., 1911-12-13
MUSIC
a DAY WITH HAROLD BAUER
A Recital and the Kneisel
Quartet.

The lovers Of music which calls for inti-
macy of acquaintance with the compost
tions. the instruments and the performers
wore all yesterday afternoon and evening,
more or less. at the feet OF Harold Bauer.
In the first place, he gave a recital Of piano
forte music in Carnegie Hall: then. in the
evening, he associated himself with the
Kneisel Quartet at it's second subscription
concert in the ballroom OF the Hotel Astor.
II was no doubt something Of trial Tor
him. because he played nothing but music
Of the highest order and played II all with
wonderful conscientiousnes and zeal; 1t was
a trial. IL the word can be used without
offence. to those few whose duties compelled
them to hear all the music of the day-out
they are a negligible Guantity-lshmaeltes'
whose hands are supposed TO he raised
against everybody and against whom
cverybody's hands are raised, the news
paper reviewers. No need of pity for them
They do not need sympathy and do not ask
IT. The public had It's choice, and two splen-
did audiences heard Mr.. Bauer and mar
yelled at the beauty of his playing, after
noon and evening.
For his recital he had set together an un-
usually interesting programme, designed to
show the intimacy which existed between
Chopin. Schumann and List. He played
the seldom-he heard "Kreisleriana,' which
Schumann dedicated to Chopin; the Sonata
In Il minor, which List dedicated TO Schu-
mann the Fantasia In c. which Schumann
dedicated to Liszt; the Ballade In f, which
Chopin dedicated to Schumann, and the
Etudes Nos. and of Op 10, which Chopin
dedicated to Llszt. An annotated pro-
grammo written by Alfred Kalisch spoke
rather cxtravagantly about the personal
friendship of the three apostles Of Romant-
cism but as Mr. Richard Aldrich disclosed
in delightful essay in last Sundays
"Times." there was much more hyperboie
than truth in Mr. Kslischs statements.
Chopin. who certainly owed much 10 Schu-
mann for his vigorous literary champion
shin. though he dedicated the bsllade 10
Schumann, never liked any Of the latters
music and spoke Of some Of the best OF II
as not being music at all. He could not
even endure the "Carnaval.' which contains
in one Of its movements so marvellous and
so nattering an imitation Of his style
Schumanu. though he dedicated his
"Kreiseriana" TO Chopin and praised
almost instinctivcly everything that Chopin
composed for ten years. had a smaller
opinion Of the Ballade in + than of That
in G. minor. Chopin dedicated his Etudes
10 List, but was suspicious of him al
WAYS. and the feeling of dlstrust between
SChumann and his wife and List gradu-
ally grew so great that after Schumann
was dead Clara cancelled the dedication
of the Fantasia. But these things are Of
small if any moment now; the men are
dead: their music survives and is likely TO
survive for long time to come If played
as Mr.. Bauer played il YESTERDAY The
"<reisleriana" provided most plcasur-
able experience. though We are so accus
toned to what was new when il was writ
ten that we can scarcely discern I'm 1t the
fantastic chapel-master. who wore a
collar in c sharp minor and supplied the
missing chords with verbal Rhapsody when
the candle snuffers broke the strings OF
his pianoforte. As for the List Sonata,
we are strongly tempted 10 say that 1t
made more propaganda for List than all
the prctcntious orchestral and other per-
formauccs which preceded II. There must
have been many who listened TO its clear
exposition blended with fascinating SON
sucus charm yesterday who, skeptical
about the claims that have been so eX-
travagantlv made for List as a creative
genius. felt like saying to Mr.. Bauer at
the close of his performance: almost thou
persuadest me 10 be a Lisztite.'
In the evening brilliant audience lis
tened 10 the Kneisel organization play a
quartet by Mozart-all loyeliuesS and sun
shine in conception ana performance; the
Sonata I'm G minor by Salnt-Saens for piano
forte and violoncero. played by Mr.. Bauer
and Mr. Willeke. and Brahms's Quintet IN
Z minor. PLAYED by Mr.. Bauer, Mr.. kneisel
and his excellent fellows. II was an even
ing Of almost unadultcratcd delight the
single drawback being caused by the I'M
perfect acoustical conditions Of the rooU'
which. though slightly improved by arch-
tectural changes made since the first con-
cert. are Yet susceptible Of Improvement. II
il were not so great an Inconvenience to Nj.
Kneisers patrons. It would he worth while
10 try the experiment Of placing the plat
form i'm the middle of the room. The patrons
of chamber music arc all amateurs in the
true sense, and would not resent the expert
ment. but welcome it-for they all know
how essential it is TO be in as close touch
as possible with the performers and do not
object 10 seeing the back Of one Of them.
All the music was exqusitely played, bue
II was a particular qualification TO note
again how braveIy Saint-Saens holds his
own in competition with the German
classics II L. X.
BURTON HOLMES COMING.