Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-24
MAQUARRE SEXTET
MAKES ITS DEBUT
New Organization Gives Fine
Concert Before Chamber Music
Association at the Bellevue

The Maquarre Sextet made its debut yes
terday afternoon a special meeting of the
Chamber Music Association at the Bellevue
Stratford and demonstrated its right 70 be
Classed as one OF the best chamber music
organizations of the country. The concert
they gave was one of the most enjoyable
and varied of any yet given by the associa-
ton.
The seXtet is composed OF Andre
Maquarre. flute Frederick Cook, first vio-
lin; Alexander Zenker. second violin Harry
F. Grover, viola Victor de Gomez cello. and
Anton Torello Contrabass. All are members
of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The concert opened with the B fiat SYM
phony of Haydn. arranged by the composer
for strings and flutes Then came the Nolk-
man Serenade in y minor for strings alone.
Mr. de Gomez playing the cello obligato part.
Next was the seldom-played serenade Of
Beethoven for flute. violin and viola and the
program ended with seXtet for flute and
strings by Heinrich ITofnann.
The organization displayed n perfection of
ensemble that is almost unbelievable when
the short time that It has been in existence
iS taken into consideration. The tone quail
ity was good throughout, the balance almost
perfect, while the rhythms were clearly de
fined but not overaCCentuated, and the tempt
were correct and in perfect keeping with
the moods of the various movements. The
seNtet showed Enthusiastically the results of
many long and hard rehearsas.
In the Nokman serenade Mr.. de Gomez.
in the oblgato cello part, played with great
beauty of tone, elegance of phrasing and a
musiCianly and sympathetic interpretations
He was dcservedly recalled several times
a the close of the number The other parts
which are more than mere accompaniment,
were discreetly and skillfully played by
MesSrs. Cook. Zenker, Grover nd Torello The
Beethoven Trio, serenade. as the composer
entities it, was played by Mr. Maquarre. Mr.
Cook and Mr.. Grover. Lacking a bass ia =
the work is delightful in its charm and in
the grace and lightneSs of its texture. it
was beautifully played by all three, and in
cidentally the unwonted prominence of the
viola part showed Mr. Grover to be an un-
usually fine player, with an excellent tone
good technique and accurate rhythmic
feeling
The Hoffman SeXtet proved to be fine
composition. Written in strict FORM musi-
cianly in its Workmanship. with an album
dance OF attractive IL not highly original
thematic material the work will bear re-
peating The scherzO, while somewhat Men
delsSohnsh. is especially good, being one of
the most effective movements of the concert
Like all the other numbers II was finely
played and received with every evidence of
enjoyment by the large audience
The success of the concert should estab-
lish the Maquarre SeXtet among the per-
manent organizations of the city. and the
Chamber Music Association is to be congrat-
ulated for having brought out so excellent
an ensemble body. The sextet is strong in
every part, apd in none more than in the
contrabass Anton Torello again demon-
strated that he is one of the greatest mas
ters of the instrument in the country He
tone was beautifully rich, but soft, and he
did what few bass players can do namely
play in the real chamber music stvle with
faultess rhythm and a high degree of musi
cal intelligence and feeling