Mason-Thomas Chamber Music Soiree: 4th

     “The Fourth soiree of chamber music, tenth season, took place at Dodworth’s Hall last night, and although as usual on the nights of these soirees, the weather was intolerably bad, there was a numerous and very appreciative audience in attendance.  The selections were from Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann.  Mozart’s Quartette in D is one of his pleasantest, the Allegretto being charming in melody and full of varied interest, the Minuetto notable for its ingenious imitation, the Adagio for its flowing and beautiful subject (too much worked up, perhaps), and the Allegro for its florid and spirited brilliance.  Of the movements, the Adagio was the most successfully performed.  The dampness of the atmosphere affected the instruments, for they did not remain perfectly in tune through all the evening, and they were at their worst during the first quartette.  Mozart does not fare so well at the hands of these gentlemen as Beethoven or Schumann. There is a tender grain, a refined sentiment and a delicacy of fancy in his quartettes that demand a highly poetic treatment and a very loving appreciation for the expression of which much depends upon the first violin.  Mr. Thomas gives but little evidence of these requisites, besides which, there is a stiffness about his bow arm, and a want of pliancy arising from too much use of the shoulder and too little of the wrist, which seem to forbid the accomplishments of the finer shades of artistic coloring and passionate emotion.

     Beethoven’s Trio, with piano, is a striking composition throughout, the most interesting movement being the ‘Andante Cantabile,’ which is very fine. This trio was well played in all its movements, Mr. Mason acquitting himself at the piano in a very satisfactory manner. He played with spirit, force and expression.

     The Quartet in A, by Schumann, is an interesting work. The subjects of all his movements are bold and striking; he grasps them with a master’s hand, and his method of treating them is full of imagination, ingenuity and dramatic effect. The melodies possess much breadth, the modulations are striking and apposite, and the harmonies are unusually rich, and are made to seem more so by his broad manner of writing them for the instruments. This was the favorite selection of the evening, and was met with the best success. As a whole it was well performed, for although frequently too much coarse energy was infused into it, the spirit of the composition was well considered, and pretty faithfully interpreted. ”