New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-17
MUSICAL DOINGS
OF A THURSDAY
French Viohnist Back
KneiSel Quartet Heard
in Chamber Music
BY II. r. KREHBIEL

ceTIS INTENDED nc can CONSIDER only n
few incidents.
II was an interesting episode OF the
day, as it will prove All interesting in
cident OF the season that VI. Jacques
Thibaut returned TO the American con-
cert platform after an absence Of
thirteen years. NJ. Ribaut is a violin
virtuoso, and there has been no dearth
Of his species, though possibly Of his
kind, in the interim, yet his return de-
serves a special chronicle.
When he came TO New York NJ.
Thibaut had won q unique distinction
as having attracted the attention OF
serious music lovers in Paris to the
music OF the Cafe Rouge, in the Latin
Quarter, because Of the performances
which he and two brothers made there.
Then he, first prize Of the Conserva-
tory, Joined NJ. Colonies orchestra and
attracted wider attention by the
solos which he played at its concerts,
so wide and dignifed an attention, in
deed, that he found the virtuoso path
open to him, and few tours in Eu-
rope. eliminating in London. placed
him in the front rank of virtuosi whom
the world was willing TO hear.
Came Here in 1903
Then. in the season of 1903, he came
to New York, playing here first at a
concert conducted BY Herman Wetzler
on October 3 Of that year.
From the first he made most anna
Bile impression. In Saint-Saens's con-
certo in y minor he disclosed himself
ba - fcfa
energetic, firm, masterful-holding the
elements of his art in a conquering
grasp, but betraying little else than his
command of his instrument and the
composition. But in Mozart's concerto
in Z fiat he was the poetic messenger
Of an exquisite artistic eyangel, swayed
by lovely and lofty emotions, serene,
tender, reposeful, convincing, inspiring.
His style was not large, like that Of
Ysaye, but refined and peculiarly in
gratiating. Back of its gentleness and
caressing amiability there was strength
and warmth of temperament.
He next appeared a fortnight later
at the first concert of the Philharmonic
Society conducted by his friend, NJ.
Edouard Colonne, and with Lalo's con-
certo evoked such demonstration of
enthusiasm as our concert rooms are
no longer used 10. Subsequently he
played in recitals with Andre Benoist
as a sympathetic accompanis) at the
Metropolitan opera concerts and at
concert Of the symphony Society.
where he repeated the Mozart concerto.
Good Impression Remained
When he left US no visiting violin Writ
uoso left behind him better impress
~ hop ho. nd - :
come incident of the season, the sig
nifcance of which was neither raised
nor lowered by the industriously cir
culated reports during the last two
years of his participation in the Eu-
ropean war. We had something too
much of that kind Of reclame in the
case of MIR. Kreisler, whose playing is
more interesting than his book about
his military service, his limp or the
exhibition of the head of the lance
which had been thrust into his hip by
a Cossack.
NJ. Thbaut gave a thoroughly enjoy
able concert Yesterday. His pro-
gramme began with Saint-Saens's Con-
certo in A major, which, we were told.
was played "in its original form at the
request of the composer" This ap-
parently meant that to its two move
ments, as originally published, there
was appended the familiar "Rondo
Capriccioso"; but if the rondo was
conceived as a finale for the concerto,
for when purpose it is admirably
adapted. we have never seen record
Of the fact.
This concerto was composed in two
movements in 1859 and published IN
4 1868; the "Rondo Capriccioso" written
in 1863 and published in 1870. After
! this number came Beethoven's Ro-
nance in + and the Prelude and Fugue
+ in G minor from one of Bach's sonatas
/ for violin alone The final group OF
pieces consisted of largo by firrlllo
a scherzando by NJ. Thibaut's teacher,
/ Marsick, and Wieniawsky's Polonaise
| There may have been triiie less
smoothness Of tone and elegance OF
style in VI. Thibaut's playing than were
so much in evidence thirteen years ago,
but il was masterful exhibition OF
that breadth, reposefulness and appre-
/ citation of the beauty of melodic con
tour and phrase which won him so
much admiration on his first visit.
Ritz Ballroom Filled
Members of the American Academy
Of Arts and Letters and the National
Institute of Arts and Letters filled to
overlooking the ballroom of the Ritz
Carlton Hotel yesterday afternoon,
when the Kneisel Quartet gave con-
cert of chamber music, composed by
members of the lower house OF the
American Immortals. The music was
all of excellent quality-and some OF
il had been acclaimed as such before
the trade journals of to-day began the
creation" of American school IN ap-
parent despite of the historians, and
reviewers who had extended their help
I ing hands long before the exploiting
of American composers had been con-
ceived OF as good business.
The compositions were George W.
Chgdwick's Quartet in ID minor, Arthur
Foote's Theme and Variations in A
major (Which Theodore Thomas used TO
play with all the orchestral strlngs)
/ and Henry X. Hadley's Pianoforte
! Quintet in A minor with the composer
playing the pianoforte). which was
| first heard at a meeting of the Society
of the Friends Of Music IN this city
( last season. 1t vas very proper recog-
milton of American music, but whether
: il did as much 20 help the American
! COMPOSER Whose small fry ~ scream
| irg for recognition, If the trade jour
mails tell the truth as a similar attend
ance (paidD at one Of the concerts at
which native music Of this character is
played by capable artists. is question
which may seem interesting II left
/ open for discussion.
AT the concert of the Philharmonic
Society last night Mr.. Stransky. dis
Amounted in the non-arrivai OF Julla
Culp. who had been announced as a
solo attraction, presented an all
orchestral programme. IL was opened
with Sehubert's great symphony in {,
- --Ll.L a.n.n Stranss,a sYmnhonic