Including a Pianoforte Recital by EUGEN D'ALBERT
SAMUEL KUTCHER (Violin) ; GEORGE WHITAKER (Violin) ; RAYMOND JEREMY (Viola); JAMES LOCKYER (Viola); CEDRIC SHARPE ('Cello)
EDWARD ROBINSON ('Cello)
BRAHMS' two sextets for two violins, two violas and two 'celli are among the most melodious and easy to understand of all his chamber music. The second, in G major, begins with a waving figure on the first viola which is maintained throughout the statement of the first chief theme, given at the outset to the first violin. The second main tune begins in a curious way, very softly, on first violin and first 'cello, three octaves apart, the first viola reinforcing them in the middle. On these two the movement is built up, both of them appearing often in fragmentary form.
The second movement is an ener. getic scherzo, two in the bar, beginning with a capricious tuno which the first violin plays at the outset. The alternative section, corresponding to the conventional Trio, is a very quick three in the bar, and the return of the first part is slightly altered from its first appearance. A short and animated Coda finishes tho movement.
The slow movement begins with a broad, song-like melody played by the first violin, and there is a more animated section in the middle, after which there is a form o f variation of the first tune.
The last movement openp with a prelude made up of quickly reiterated notes, after which first violin and first 'cello play the principal melody, a flowing tuno in 9/8 time. Tho first 'cello announces the second chief tuno and the movement is in the ordinary first movement form with a coda at brisker speed.