The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-11
San Francisco
Musicians Play
Some Mem Music
Mrs. Beach's Theme and Varia-
tiOns Novelty of Visiting
SOciety's Program.
ny W. }. HENDERSON.

The Chamber Music Society of San
Francisco was heard for the first time
here in a concert given yesterday after
noon in Aeolian Hall. Incidentally shis
was also the first chamber music enter
ia inment OF season which promises 10
be generous in pleasure Of this variety.
The members of the visiting organiza
ton from the Western coast are Louis
persuger Hrst violin: I.ouiS Ford.
second violin. Nathan rlrestone. viola .
Walter terner. cello. and Elias Hecht'
flute. The last named is toe founder OF
the society
All OF these players are members OF
the San Francisco Orchestra and latel'
The Berkshire Chamber Music Festival.
Thence they Went forward some New
1.nglard parasangs into Boston ana
from that city naturally drifted onward
"a New York brinr,'g some music OF
the true Boston So Their progra M
Yesterday consisted Ecethovens quar-
tie, in = minor. opus -. No. , Mrs II.
II. A. Beach's theme and variations.
opus So Tor flute and string quartet
ard Dohnanyi's quartet in ID nat.
Neither the first nor the last compost
ton is a, stranger to local audiences
Beethoven was almost inevitable when
a new chamber music body was inviting
consideration and this endless certainty
OF Beethoven might easily lead TO
musings upon the reasons why these
venerable qliartets continue to be per
formed in spite of the vigorous course
1T. 10 art s.f =
cai writing has been subjected and the
brilliant demonstrations OF the vastly
superior value OF impressionstic
methods But this temptation must te
resisted in order that the news OF the
day be recorded
Mrs Beachs variations were heard
for the first time here. 1t might be re-
garded as rudeness to call Mrs. Beach
the dean OF Americas women COM
posers. but it is complimentary to de-
scribe her as one Of the most brilliant
lights OF the Boston cotere. She has
written much and she has often written
well, and it can be said of the work
heard yesterday that i commands both
respect and admiration as the creation
Of musician of profound sincerity and
sound mastery of methods.
1t falls spontaneously into five con-
nected sections, each n variation and
each attaining the dimensions of a
movement In it, Development and style.
There Is 4 good deaf OF crromatic writ
ing and there are some ,oiches of
Orientalsm. Sometimes th. familiar
flute OF the afternoon faun breaks
through The weo Of Mrs. Beach's har-
monies. bUt all gaouid rejoice In such
proof that Great Pan is not dead. AS
n whole, the composition is somher IN
spite of two parts marked presto leg
giero and one allegro giocoso. Sunlight
does not play through much of il. but
rather the soft reflective glow OF twi-
light 1t was vel! performed
1t was not a favorable afternoon for
quartet playing. Mr. Ferner had the
misfortune 10 break n string in the
first movement of the Beethoven quartet
and it gave him trouble after he had
repaired the damage. All TIE PLAYERS had
difficulty in keeping their instrurn an 8
correctly tuned in the warm, moist at
mospherc. Perhaps this was the cause
of the lack of purity of tune throughout
the afternoon. In rhythm. balance, and
phrasing the organization showed COM
mendable merits but there was nothing
in the reading of the Beethoven music
to demand special comment