Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-31

Joseph Roisman, first violinist of the
Budapest String Quartet, was pre-
sented with medal, a second one
going to Erich Itor Kahn, pianist
of the Albeneri Trio. Presenting
the awards personally, Mrs. Coolidge
said she wished ito honor Mr.. Rois-
man and through him his great
quartet" She spoke of her own
association with the group and later
recalled the 1900 concerts given by
the ensemble in Europe, Africa,
Australia and other places, as we'll
as the 200 programs played under
the sponsorship of the Gertrude
Clarke Whittall Foundation, in the
Library.
Quartet Makes Debut Here.
Presenting the medal to Mr.. Kahn
with deep" respect and much per-
sonal Affection" she said she was
deeply impressed bys the funda-
mental scholarship and rounded
musicianship of Mr.. Kahn and by
his entire modesty and unpreten-
ticus artistry" She told of the work
he did in Europe as radio director
in Frankfurt. the arrangement of
music and its performances for the
Schubert Society of Paris, his rec
ords and compositions and his COL
laboration with Pablo Casals and
the late Emanuel. Feuermann. He
was one of the founders of the AL
beneri Trio and played with the
group on Friday night.
The concert was the occasion of
the Washington debut of the Berk-
shire String Quartet, which was for
merly the Gordon Quartet Since
the death of Jacques Gordon his
place as first violinist has been
taken by Urico Rossi. who occu-
spied the second violin chair in the
original group. Replacing him is
Albert Lazan, who with David Daw-
son, violist. and Fritz Mag, cellist.
complete the members.
Beethoven'S Quartet in F minor,
op. 95' and Brahms Quartet in A
minor, op. 81, No. 2" were played
by the group A first hearing was
given to Ross Lee Finney's piano
quartet, dedicated to Mrs. Cool
idge, in which Mr.. Rossi. Mr.. Daw-
son and Mr.. Mag were joined by
Mr.. Kahn.
| Shows Energetic Style.
Mr.. Finney is a conservative mod
ERNST and the new quartet. writ
ten this year, Is another example
of his distinctive, energetic and
convincing style. 1t Is robust
work which gives the greatest prom
inence to the piano. While some
of the themes are both short and
thin in the first movement, their
vigorous statement sets mood that
is maintained throughout with the
exception of the beautiful Andante
Led by the viola. which discourses
haunting songlike melody, the
strings are here given their first
real solo opportunity in the lovely
lonely chant which constitutes the
movement.
The opening Allegro and the fol-
lowing Scherzo are somewhat in the
form of a dialogue between the
strings and piano with the latter
having the most powerful express
sion. But the Scherzo holds one
of the individual touches in the
duet between viola and violin to the
reiterated tone of the cello like q
drumbeat. Throughout there is q
native favor in the writing which
is compact and smooth. The four
players gave 1t q well-polished per-
Torrance rich in nuances. The
same musical care was bestowed
upon the string quartets but the
spirited piano playing Of Mr.. Kahn
helped to make the Finney quartet
the more interesting.
The composer was present in The
audience and responded to the very
enthusiastic reception given hi
work,