The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-02
FRIENDS OF MUSIC
HEAR new QUINTET
Composition Of FlOrent Schmitt
Has First Perform
ance Here.
MUSIC rs INTERESTING
Work for Piano and Strings
Suffers by Reason
of Length.
MUSIC rs INTERESTING

The third and last Of the series OF sub
scription concerts announced early in the
season by the new organization called the |
Society OF the Friends of Music took |
place yesterday afternoon at the RITZ
Carlton. An extra concert will take place
on Wednesday. February IS, when Mr..
Ysaye and his son will play The first
and second entertainments of the society
unfortunately escaped discussion owing -
the crowded condition of the musical
calendar.
The object OF the organization Is to give
hearings OF works which by reason OF
their exclusiveness of appeal or their
expensive demands In the matter OF In
strumental artists cannot be offered by
chamber music bodies relying upon the
support of the general public. The con-
certs are provided with variety and re-
lief by the addition OF lighter numbers
or songs and In these cases also novelty
is sought.
The scheme is entirely worthy OF seri-
Gus consideration and has thus far placed
good results to it's credit. Compositions
which might not otherwise have bean
heard and which deserve hearing have
been admirably performed and numerous
audiences OF people Interested In rarer
products Of art have been brought to-
| gether. The programmes have been ar
| ranged with judgment and intelligent
notes have helped toward an understand
ing of music either complex or elusive
The principal number on yesterdays
| programme was both. 1t was the quintet
| IN B minor. opus So OF Florent Schmitt.
| II may be recalled that on January 10
| the Boston orchestra played his Tragedy"
| de Salome.' II was said here that tins
| work was neither crude nor vulgar IN
| method, and that II showed genuin"
| mastery of materials. The composition
1 Nod -
| beautifully and with some novel effects.
| that IL was clear In form and showed
| real and valuabl" talent: Some OF these
| comments might he repeated in reference
| 10 the quintet heard yesterday.
| No exhaustive analysis can be given OF
the work for THE IS Chronicl.r heard
IT for tn. first time and without having
| studied the score The impression made
| hv this hearing, however. was that TINS
| liz a very important and significant S.ece
! Of chamber music and that II should be
| heard again and again. Its length is
| much against II. for audiences are SLOW
| to give themselves up to prolonged In
| tell.ctual application, and such music
cannot be graspcd by an indolent
listener.
Mr. Schmitt has displayed in this COM
/ position a great mastery OF form. eN-
traordnary ingenuity in planning new and
striking instrumental effects, or trans
| f.rring to the domain OF chamber music
som. hitherto confined to orchestral work
and. In the modern method OF development
which preserves through work certain
elementary thematic thought expands
these into new matter which has indi-
| viduality
| Rhythmically the composition Is
opuient and harmouically II IL very COM
prehensive hut without becoming mystic
in tonality or losing hold of the flnda
mental values of the simple scale. The
rcNectiv. character OF the mclodlc IDEAS
and their developments Is inteus". and thus
| places barrier in the way Of popularity
FOR the music. II IL IN" creation of a
serious artist who makes no couc.ss lons,
hut imperiously demands that the hear"r
shall follow him into his remote chambers
Of thought
The quintet WAS played 10y Edouard
pethier. first violin: Davol Sanders,
second. samuel Lfschey. viola; Paul
Kefer. cello. and Castor Dether. piano.
These artists performed the difficult COM
position IN IA manner which showed that
they had given IL earnest study. CASTOR
pether commanded special admiration for
the snoothness. color. fine adjustment OF
dynamic values and technical skill which
he brought to the formidable piano part.
After the quintet Paul R.imers sang some
songs, mostly new, by Blair Fairchild
Georges Hue and Cour,andt Palmer.