Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Photo of Kruse-Hausmann-Joseph Joachim-Wirth in String Quartet 1896

An old photo of string quartet with Joseph Joachim as first violinist. This photo reportedly date 1896.

Robert Hausmann, Cellist.
Joseph Joachim (1831-1907), Violinist.
Johann Kruse (1859-1927), Violinist;
Emmanuel Wirth (1842-1923), viola?


London String Quartet - Raoul Vidas - Josef Piastro Borissoff in New York 1920

This is one of my found string quartet article from a search in the Library of Congress. I manage to edit some of interesting stories. Check the other string quartet in old newspaper scan in this link.

This is a page in New York Tribune, 30th October 1920 and then New York Times 10 October 1920. The classical music were pleased by several entertainment on that time. Notably was London String Quartet. Then two young violinist to make their New York performance, Raoul Vidas and Josef Piastro Borissoff. Both still traceable in the Google search nowday. Here the newspaper scan, enjoy the vintage.



Flonzaley Quartet - 1920 The Pullman Herald

This is one of my found string quartet article from a search in the Library of Congress. I manage to edit some of interesting stories. Check the other string quartet in old newspaper scan in this link.

The Flonzaley String Quartet was surely one of leading string quartet in America back in the day. This is a short article about the ensemble that to be performed at local area. Article from The Pullman Herald  23rd April 1920. The article passages:

Flonzaley Quartet in Pullman 1920

The Flonzaley Quartet is generally recognized as the leading string quartet of the present day. The string quartet produces the highest form of music and this concert should be one of the best ever heard in Pullman.

"They play more like angels than like men"—James G. Huneker in the New York Times.

"The Flonzaley Quartet is rapidly becoming the cult in the musical world."—H. E. Krehbiel in the New
York Tribune.

"The quartet is indisputably without a rival."—Philip Hale in the Boston Herald.

"Their perfection of technic, remarkable blending of tone and musical attainments rank them first in
artistic merit as an organization."
—Maurice Rosenfeld in the Chicago News.

"The finest quartet now in existence is the one calling itself the Flonzaley Quartet."- Philadelphia
Press.


Flonzaley String Quartet can be read further in Wikipedia.

MacPhail String Quartet - 1914 New Ulm Review

Reading old newspaper from the 19th century is fun. Especially when you have a specific hobby / interest in mind. I found few of string quartet related article just by randomly search "string quartet" in the Library of Congress and manage to edit some of interesting stories.

This article found in New Ulm Review, dated 9th December 1914. The article scanned perfectly by silicone brain and thus enable the text version :



ONE OF THE NORTHWEST'S FOREMOST MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS.


The string Quartet has rightly been called the flower of instrumental music. The greatest composers, appreciating its worth, have written many of their noblest compositions in this form. Music lovers have always regarded the string quartet as the most perfect expression of the highest music, and the growth of public interest in it is evidenced in the popularity of such organizations as the Flonzaley and Kneisel quartets.

The playing of the McPhail String Quartet combines beautiful tone, rich and sonorous, with excellent ensemble. Under the direction of William McPhail it has reached a point of perfection rarely attained by similar bodies.

Every member an artist of the highest order and especially fitted for his respective part, the contribution qf each to the artistic results of the whole is invariably reflected in the perfect blending of tone and compelling charm of interpretation which characterizes the playing of this quartet.

William McPhail is a violinist of extraordinary gifts and attainments, possessing that rare combination of technic, temperament, and tone which has won for him an enviable reputation among the leading concert artist of the northwest.

Appearing as soloist with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra at two of their regular concerts, Mr. MacPhail received,high praise for his brilliancy of execution, dignity of expression and sound musicianship.
Since returning from four year's study m music centers of Europe, his musical activities have been many and important, in the concert field as well as in the studio, where he has achieved tremendous success as an exponent of the Sevcik method.

The repertoire of the MacPhail Quartet comprises nearly the entire chamber music literature, including works by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, Grieg, Dvorak, etc., besides many arrangements of well known compositions by American, German, Scandinavian and other well known composers. The program for tomorrow evening, includes string quartets, violin solos, 'cello solos, trios for violin, viola and 'cello and duets for two violins.

William MacPhail later found MacPhail Music School and still in business until nowday. See the website http://www.macphail.org/ABOUT-MACPHAIL/HISTORY/index

check the other stories found in old newspaper

Hagenow String Quartet - 1897 The Courier Nebraska Newspaper Scan

Reading old newspaper from the 19th century is fun. Especially when you have a specific hobby / interest in mind. I found few of string quartet related article just by randomly search "string quartet" in the Library of Congress and manage to edit some of interesting stories.

Hagenow String Quartet - reside in Nebraska area, article from The Courier Nebraska 13th February 1897. The article titled "Musical Mention" by John Randolph. I believe Hagenow String Quartet may be one of top amateur ensemble, good enough to received a large portion of local newspaper story. No internet result from search "Hagenow String Quartet" , it's a surprising result indeed.

However when searching August Hagenow + violin , some results come to light:
Go back Mr. August Hagenow: August Hagenow came to Lincoln from Chicago in 1886; he was a violinist, but also conducted bands and orchestras in Lincoln. He joined the faculty of O. B. Howell's Nebraska Conservatory of Music in 1889, the same year he married Emma S. Seifert. In January 1894 he opened the Hagenow School of Music, but was bought out by Willard Kimball of the University School of Music in June 1894. Hagenow joined the faculty of the University School of Music, becoming director of the university band from 1903 to 1911.  http://cather.unl.edu/j00085.html

Interesting passage from the article :
In the spring of the year 1889 a few musicians were in the habit of meeting from time to time to spend a musical evening in the practice of string quartets and other music. From the embryo was developed the Hagenow String Quartet consisting at that time of Mr. August Hagenow, first violin, Charles Hagenow, 2nd violin, Mr. G. Sayer, viola, and Dr. E. George Andrews, cello. At the time the quartet was organized public were hardly thought of, the only object being the pleasure derived from the ensemble playing.


Hagenow String Quartet story in The Courier, 13th Feb 1897


check the other stories found in old newspaper: