CHAMBER MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 17

CHAMBER MUSIC

Wellington Players (The oonceft bi the Wellington Chamber Music Playei-s last evening was not BO Well patronised as it might have been, probably Oil atdotmt of the southerly ramStOriii. ThO programme was a good one, find the perforinfinee sound throughout; indeed Wellington is, or should be, indebted to these people for the endeavour they lire iuakiilg to popularise this most dOledtable forid Of music. BVfifak We Mow for his gorgeously dbldiiffia orcliesffal work, his “Spectre s Bride,” find his songs, but last evening We Were permitted to hear his String QUttftet in F, popularly known as "The Nlggef,” It WOtild have been just as appfbptiiite to eail it “The Scotch, for though there is a recurrence of the tficky Byhiiiipated idioms, supposedly nfigiditl iii origin, the composer has used “Loch Lontond” find another Scots am, with bagpipe trihimifigs, t6O, to gain his effect, blit it ih all. Bo cleverly woven, with delightful ihiier themeh, that bne is lost at bis iiigeiiuity Abd fekdurde. In tjre slow mbteflient tbe?e is a charming song fpr the two yldiinfi of distbactiiig beauty, whilst the vlvkeity aiid charm of the scherzo and finale gave one a fresh insight into the geiiiUe of the great Bobfiffiiaii, A good impression, too, was made by thfe pliiydfs in tlit! Pianoforte Quartet m A. by Srnest Ohausson (d pfipil of Cesar Franck), with Aladfifiie de MfiUfiy at the keyboard, aiid Messrs. Leon de Mauny (Violin), Frank Crowther (viola), afid Claude Tanner (’cello), as the supporting strings. The . beaiity of this Work may not be revealed at a first hearing, but 0n& was able to catch something 6f itS evahescent charm in the delihate irttefchahges between the pianoforte and the strings. Frank Bridge is a composer not very well known in these parts. He was represented by his fantasy, "Sir Roger de Coverley,” really a delicious parody on the old traditional air, which has been given a most Whimsical setting for the string quartet, And was played with animation by Messrs, de Mauny, Desmond Lavin, Frank Crowther, and Claude Tanner. Thfi final number introduced John Desmond in chamber music through _ his “PhantSisie Trio in A Minor” (for pianoforte, violin and ’cello), a composition of uncdtfihion beauty, with rich veins of melody, f 6? the strings, and a fascinating pianoforte part. It was really delightfully played by Madame de Mauny and Mr. de Mauny and Mr. Tanner, who well deserved the applause their performance induced.