Evening star., 1926-10-10
M U SIC
LAST FESTIVAL PROGRAM.

IngLOn unOer LIl0 TIllZdUcli cpl d6 OO
Coolidge Foundation in the little audi
torium of the Library of Congress
came to a brilliant end in program
of three quartets played by that
famous organization, The Flonzaleys,
before an audience that stood to the
doors last night. More would have
listened had there been an inch OF
room available.
1t was a program we'll worth hear
ing. Many in the audience VINO had
come here as distinguished guests
from other cities and even other coun-
tries, had already had an active day
with the excitement of a perfect river
trip 70 the home of the first President
of our country at Mount Vernon,
tea in honor of the Pro Arte Quartet
Of Brussels, Belgium given at the
home Of Mrs. Franklin Ellis, and
dinner in honor Of all the visitors at
the Arts Club of Washington. Yet
there seemed to be not one person
present who did not listen with alert
ness to every note of the program
and show definite response at the con-
clusion of each number.
Because of the fact that the Quar-
tet No. 3 C925)," written by Mr.. Luc
Balmer of Switzerland, had been given
no previous performance In this coun-
try, interest centered naturally enough
in that composition. There were many
who obviously did not like It. To the
writer It seemed a work well worth
repetition and study. The first move.
ment, "Tranquillo-Allegro energico,"
had indeed the tranquility of Sun
day afternoon in the doing period in
the country that comes soon after
the heavy MONDAY dinner and lasts
until teatime.
The energetic notes invited mem
ories of the discordant symphonies Of
frogs in the marsh after dark. There
is no question but that modern music
does suggest pictures, programmatic
mental solutions of its audible puz-
zles. In the second movement the
story that the second violin related
with comments by the first violin and
viola in response seemed a musical
conversation that suggested the So
phisticated. yelled phases Of the mod
ern comedy as presented in terms of
Michael Arlen.
The presto had an impishness in it's
use of harmony with discords that
brought forth either amusement or
Snorts from the audience. This com
position, however little it may have
been liked by many, certainly was ig-
nored by none. 1t was obviously not
an easy task to play this composition
but the FlonZaleys. institution that
they are and received as they were
with a royal welcome, went at the
task with vim and a clear-cut limning
Of their parts that left little doubt but
that Mr.. Balmer's work was given ex-
cellent presentation.
Joyous. rollicking Haydn was hon.
ored at the opening of this program.
The Quartet in d, opus 76, No. s."
evidently written in the end Of the
eighteenth century, was beautifully
performed. The many-timeS repeated
passages Of the first movement were
set forth with that nicely of emphasis
that is one of the destinations of this
Quartet'S work. The largo, with its
rich, singing quality, was played so
beautifully that it attained a depth Of
feeling that nearly reached the point
Of tearfulneSS in the hearers reac-
tions. The minuet was daintily pre-
else and the galloping rhythm of the
finale left the audience in a decidedly
cheerful state Of expectancy to hear
what the moderniSt, Mr.. Balmer. had
to say.
The finale of the evening was tact.
fully and diScriminatlngly placed in
the more than capable hands of Rob-
ert Schunann of the mid-nineteenth h
century. The work was his Quartet
in A, opus Al, No. 3" 1t was given
a rarely lovely Interpretation. The
second movement was so beautifully
played that one extreme enthusiast in
the rear Of the room shouted bravo"
q number Of times and bubbled over
with JOY that may have had added
weight with relief after the more
modern work. In the third movement
the pizzicato mellowness Of the cello
against the other strings brought out
the exquisite appeal OF melody that
rivals the famous 'andante canta-
bile of Tschaikowski for effective
ness. The utter Singablcness OF
Schumanns every note and the log
teal sweep of melodic curve were
never more in evidence than as the
Flonzaleys presented this work last
night The F1onlaleys are Messrs. A.
Betti, A. Pochon, y. Moldavan (the
newest member, who did some nne
work on the viola) and I. d'Archam-
beau.
This afternoon the Pro Arte
Quartet will play Beethoven's String
Quartet, Opus 1855; Faure's Piano
Quartet, Opus AS with Ernest
Hutcheson at the piano. and another
Huybrecht work. 'Poeme." a string
quartet that won the Ojai prize for
1870. InlS program Is not or the
festival. but an added program to
ws~e more Washingtonians an oppor-
tunity to hear this remarkable organ
ization. 1t has been rumored that
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge may attend the
concert, for which all tickets have
long since been given out with a long
waiting list for any vacancies. Mrs.
Frederick S. Coolidge has bestowed
rare gift upon the American people
in donating this chamber music audi.
torium and arranging these many
programs. of which the annual
festival is but q part. for general.