Evening star., 1924-02-10
REC|TALS TRIUMPH
FOR MUSIC LOVERS
Closing Event at Freer GAL
Iery, .''Under Shelter of
Government" Success.

The great body Of music lovers in
America will now rejoice that there
has been more fully realized in the
which they long have been looking
as a goal--"music under the shelter
Of government"
Signalling this achievement was
the remarkable conclusion last eve
ming of three recitals Of chamber
music in the Freer Gallery OF Art, by
the gift of Mrs. Frederic Shurtleff
Coolidge. who also has presented to
the Library of Congress a splendid
collection of holograph scores.
The recitals. which were given in
connection with the scores. and under
auspices of Herbert Putnam. Lii
brarian of Congress-, and Carl Engel,
chief of the music division Of the Lii
brary, came to a successful close last
night before a large body of invited
guests, including composers, students
and patrons of music.
sIdeal" Realized.
Mrs. Coolidge, expressing apprecia-
ton not only on her own account.
but on behalf of the music lovers of
the nation for the step forward,
which had been taken under govern
ment auspices, declared the series had
realized for her an ideal"
ITO place music under the shelter
of government" said Mrs. Coolidge,
has long seemed to me to be the
only lasting and dignified goal of our
endeavor-tne only impersonal meth
cd of establishing art upon its right
full PEDESTAL"
Mrs. Coolidge also expressed her
thanks to the artists, composers and
others who had co-operated in the
programs here, explaining that many
of them were connected with her
temple of chamber music on South
Mountain, at Pittsfield, Mass
Mr.. Putnam paid tribute to Mrs.
Coolidge's contribution to music and
concluded with an eulogy to the art
and artists of the occasion. Music
was declared by Mr. Putnam to be
among all the arts ''the most subtle,
tho most searching. soothing and yet
the most compelling"
string Quartet Included.
The program last evening included
a string quartet by G. Francesca
Malipiero. suite for Viola and Piano
forte" by Ernest Bloch and "Phan-
tasy Sextet" for three violins, viola
and two violincellos by Eugene
Goossens.
In the entire program there was
manifest the virtue of chamber music
its intimate touch, its refinement
and it's personal appeal.
The string quartet "Rispetti e
Strambotti," by Malipiero, was pre-
sented by the LencS String Quartet,
consisting of Sander Harmati, Wolf
Wolnnsohn, Nicholas Moldavan and
Emmeran Stoeber, with sharp, clean
cut delineation, enhancing it's COM
pelling character. Full of contrasts,
| the number passed through its meas
ures with heroic strides, stopping
only here and there for sweet, har-
monic touches. Virile Interpretation
infused a protesting, almost sardonic
feeling, while the whole remained not
! so much Of fragrance as of condiment
or spice. The piu mosso movement
concluded, however. in peaceful con-
ventional harmony.
Greeting Of Composer.
Ernest Bloch, composer, was brought
to the front answering rapturous ap-
plause which greeted his suite for
viola and pianoforte. played master
Bauer. Brilliant. full of lights and
shadows, the suite swung from a near
ecclesiastical loveliness to strident,
piercing notes of the allegro ironico.
IL Was incllOulC anu leInp6SIuOuS, Dy
turns. 1t few into flashing cadenzas
and rolled up into majestic grandeur
!, for the piano. in parts of which Mr..
Bauer drew from his instrument tre-
mendous response. Almost could it be
said. the suite throbbed with reality of
feeling.
In the phantasy sextet the Lenox
String Quartet was assisted by Hugo
kortschak and >Willem Willeke. Here
was rollicking yet difficult counter
point, refinement Of both score and
interpretation, a rare delicacy and
beauty. 1t was admirably presented.
Washington music lovers are hop
ing for the future, judging from Mrs.
Coolidge's closing remarks. She ex-
! pressed final appreciation to all, say
ing, ITO them l owe the joy in my
! heart and the eager hope that we
have made a beginning whose end is
not yet visible"