Evening star., 1938-09-25
Chamber Music Festival
Opens in Hurricane
Candles and Flashlights Light Beautiful
Program at 10th Anniversary
On South Mountain.

nesday's storm In Boston. His place
was taken by that very versatile artist,
Carlos Salzedo, who also accompanied
Mr.. Barrere in beautiful PERFORM
ance Of Telemann's Sonata in C
Minor" for flute and piano. He
achieved special acclaim on his own
instrument, the harp. in Andre Cap
let's weird "Conte Fantasique" for
harp and string quartet. This work
Is based on Poe's The Mask OF the
Red Death" and is descriptive writing
Of highly lurid character.
Walter Piston's Three Pieces" for
flute. clarinet and bassoon and Bere-
zowsky's Suite Opus II" for the five
instruments were both rather taxing
on the eardrums, but had moments
of real beauty. They completed the
program. The varied combination Of
wind instruments which this program
called for was extremely interesting
and proved how greatly overlooked
these instruments have been in con-
cert planning.
P1TTSFIELD, Mass, Sept. 23.-
Clouded skies were again the
weather portion Of the final day Of
the festival, but the attending crowd
was undiminiShed. So far these pro-
grams have been full OF novelty in
the works presented. whether from the
pens OF the old masters or from the
new aspirants to the title of master.
The morning concert on Friday was
no exception and came near to being
the climax OF the festival programs
The artists were the Coolidge Quartet
and the Gordon Quartet. the first
playing Max Rogers Quartet In E
Flat, Opus l09," and the latter q
Quartet No. T." composed this year
by Frank Bridge. who came from
London to hear this first performance.
The tWa groups combined in thrill
The two groups combined In thrill
c Major, Opus T." which concluded
the program on note OF exaltation.
The Roger quartet is all too seldom
played and the reaction of yester-
days audience to beautiful interpre-
tation of 1t showed how, after many
years OF resistance. the public has at
last taken Roger to its heart.
1t is deep music with moving
quality and uplifting climaxeS and the
Coolidge Quartet gave it with profound
sympathy. The Bridge new opus was
awaited with interest and Immediately
commended itself to the listeners for
its virility and power, although its
harmonic formula is ultra modern in
spirit. The Gordons acquitted them
selves brilliantly with what must have
been difficult material from every
standpoint.
Yet. neither of the preceding num-
berS held quite the combination of
fire and beauty which the Enesco octet
possesses and which the two groups of
artists played exquisitely. Beginning
with Tres Modere" movement which
is anything but peaceful in character.
1t mounts to furious tempo and
then, through delicatey serene sec
ton, finishes in richly fashioned waltz
time. There has been bounteous ap-
plause for all the works presented at
this festival, but after the acter the
audience lost all grip on itself and
Numbered forth its appreciation.
>HE novelty Of the afternoon pro-
gram which closed the festival was
Ernest Toch'S Quintet Opus 64" for
piano and strings played by the Roth
Quartet, with the composer at the
piano.
1t might be said that this work.
written this year, was the surprise Of
the festival for rarely has been offered
such Superbly smooth writing for this
Of instruments. The COM
poser has quantity designated the
as 1.-The lyrical part" "the
whimsical part" "the contemplative
part and 1.-The dramatic part" and this
gives the key TO the quality of imagi-
nation which infuSes the work. He has
not cramped himself with these titles.
however, nor adhered strictly to the
mood throughout for each is qualified
by a robust exposition that is original
and OF great inSpiratiOnal source. The
entire work is SO full of substance, OF
ideas and OF expert and true musician
snip that 1t ranks high above what
most modern composers offer.
The program began with an artistic
Of the Hayden Quar-
tet in D Major" by the Roth group
and concluded with rousing per-
formance Of the Bach "Brandenburg
Concerto No. T." In this number all
Ihe string groups which had PLAYED
during the festival participated, with
The addition OF Robert Brennand. bass.
and with Feri Roth violinist. Georges
Barrere and Frances Blaisdell. flutes,
and Ralph kirkpatrick, harpsichord.
taking the leading parts. The con-
ductor was Hugh Kortschak.
Before the concerto Mrs. Coolidge
made speech. in which she thanked
Ihe artists who had assisted her in
The 10 festivals at South Mountain
and voiced her hopes that many more
would be celebrated.
thus ended the 10th Berkshire festi-
val with an aSsemblage of all its out
standing artists in a great work of
The beloved classic composer. As a
hnal gesture of good will and fare
Well. Mrs. Coolidge entertained all the
guests of the festival at 3 reception
IN the evening.