The Washington times., 1917-03-22
CHAMBER MUSIC
PINNACLE OF ART
Most Delicate Shadings Made
PosSibIe-"The Canterbury
Pilgrims" in New York.

The question has been asked the
Times music department: what Is
chamber muster"
Washington has not had a more
propitious time than the present Tor
answering that question. A series OF
four chamber music concerts has just
been concluded at the Playhouse,
with a string quartet from the Boston
Symphony Orchestra. The Won I'm
schuld Trio, not long since, gave de-
lightful recital of chamber music at
the Raleigh, and only last week
Washington composer and musician.
A. Tregina, gave a lecture on the sub
ject with music to illustrate his
theme.
Mr.. Tregina spoke of the original
designation of chamber music as
meaning ''room-music," music played
in the intimacy, as he put II, of "an
upper room"-perhaps but a meager
studio, where two or three were join
ed together to serve in high thoughts
and all sincerity the beauty that true
music symbolizes.-
DefInition I'm Encyclopedia
A definition of chamber music in
the New International Encyclopedia is
given thus: "A term used to designate
music that is specially adapted for
performance in a room. The name
originally comprised both vocal and
instrumental music, not intended for
the church, but 1t is now almost re-
stricted to the various combinations
OF pianoforte with strings, or strings
alone, as duos, trios, Quartets, quin-
tets, etc. Chamber music Is the most
delicate, refined and perfect branch of
the art, the size OF the small auditor
ium allowing of the most exquisite
shadings and nuances. The greatest
masters OF music have left some of
the worlds richest musical legacies in
their chamber music"
Chamber music rightly interpreted
should retain that intimate quality OF a
small gathering. 1t has been destroyed
In many cases through the need of ac-
commodating more listeners; but to
those who have felt the charm of this
room music"-which is but the finished
performance Of what one labored over
In the dear, unforgeetable hour of stu
dent days-at has remained the most
lasting OF student life.
To Close It's Career.
The Kneisel Quartet, our foremost
American organization for chamber
music. has announced its intention of
closing its career with the present sea-
son. The motive that prompts this de-
cision is an unique one in the art world,
for Mr.. Kneisel has chosen a moment
when these artists are at the zenith of
their powers and he gives as his reason
the following statement:
The desire that the high standard
which has been before US from the be-
ginning should not be permitted to suffer
depreciation has OF late years been a
cause. OF great concern to me, and the
responsibility has become a burden'-so
great burden. says Richard Aldrich Of
the New York Times. that he finds It
necessary to lay it down.
Opera 4 Shade Too Light.
The De Koven-MacKaye American
grand opera, THE Canterbury Pill
grims," has received its first appraisal
from its premiere at the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York. Although
cast in grand opera mold, the general
opinion seems to be that it is not suf-
hciently removed from the field of
lighter opera, that has been Mr.. De
Koven's forte, to insure 1t a lasting
place in the Metropolitan repertory.
1t has been called "a pleasant even
ing's entertainment" Critics have
said it is full Of lifting melodies, and
the audience was liberal in its bestow-
al OF approval. The libretto Is said
to possess dramatic value and high
literary quality.
The New York Sun summarizes IL
thus: an fine, IL may be said that for
those who are willing to accept an
opera light and gay in nature, never
entering into serious moods, but
ranging from sentiment"-exquisite
sentiment and felicity in the grace
fulness Of melodic style, 1t has been
formerly stated-"from sentiment to
innocent merriment, with music sim
pie and tuneful, achieving its purpose
in general effects rather than through
subtle detail, The Canterbury Pill