Mason-Thomas Chamber Music Soirée: 4th

Program.
 

“The lovers of good music should not forget these rare opportunities of cultivating it.”

“Notwithstanding the wretched state of the weather, a very large audience was present. . . .

    The Beethoven Quartettes are, almost without exception, the compositions to which the most justice is rendered by Mr. Thomas and his associates.  They have evidently made his works their special study, and they play them con amore. Their execution exhibits one train of thought, great homogeneity in execution, excellent reading, and a due perception of artistic coloring. It was received with evidences of warm admiration, to which it was justly entitled.

    Bargiel’s Trio suffered somewhat in comparison with the fine work which preceded it, but it is a clever and interesting composition, and was in every respect well played. The piano part was played by Mr. Mason with taste, judgment and spirit, which, with his excellent support, rendered the piece highly effective.

    Schubert’s Quintette is a composition of singular beauty, showing, as even the smallest piece by Schubert does, the marks of genius—an abundant flow of pure melody and a masterly command over the resources of harmony and counterpoint. The performance of this piece was by no means as satisfactory as the others. We were not satisfied either with the reading or the tempi; it was altogether too prosaic. The temperature affected the first violin just sufficiently to interfere with the perfection of the general intonation. Mr. Mollenhauer made his instrument unpleasantly prominent, and the contrast between the pure classic style of Bergner, and the ultra romantic sobbing method of Mr. Mollenhauer was unpleasant to hear, and was very destructive to the effect of the concerted piece.”

[Preliminary translation]

(…) The work of interest at this concert was the Bargiel Trio, because it was never heard here before. It is not merely a pretty work, but it also has emotional depth. It can easily “stand with” Schumann’s works of this genre. Certainly, Bargiel’s Trio did not offer the melodious diversity and aliveness the following Schubert quintet did. However; Bargiel’s Trio has a much more condensed form than Schubert who has a tendency to be too long. Nowadays, in modern times, we are much more used to concentrated musical forms of emotional and mental expression.

“The Mason and Thomas Quartet Soirées continue at bi-weekly intervals as usual and still attract the usual small but appreciative circle of listeners.”