BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND (8081-0) by 1957-1958 THIRD RECITAL und s under the auspices of THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST The Stross String Quartet: WILHELM STROSS (violin) KURT CHRISTIAN STIER (violin) VALENTIN HAERTL (viola) RUDOLPH METZMACHER (cello) SIR WILLIAM WHITLA HALL Queen's University, Belfast SATURDAY, 23rd NOVEMBER, 1957 at 3.0 p.m.

Quartet in G, Op. 64, No. 4 Joseph Haydn (1733-1808) Allegro con brio Menuetto Allegretto Adagio Presto The three quartets each of op. 54 and op. 55 and the six of op. 64 were written between 1787 and 1790 for Johann Tost and already show the extraordinary formal freedom that was to characterise his London Symphonies. Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 Boris Blacher (1903- ) Andante Allegro Sostenuto Vivace Blacher is a German composer of Baltic origin, born in China. He is at present Director of the High School for Music in Berlin. His music is said to be distinguished by free atonal counterpoint and subtle management of rhythm. This quartet was first per- formed in 1941. INTERVAL

Quartet in E flat, Op. 127 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Maestoso Allegro Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile Scherzo Finale This is the first of the five late quartets of Beethoven, the only works he wrote after the completion of the Ninth Symphony, quartets which are generally regarded as the culmination of his work. They carried music into realms so far in advance of their date that we have not yet caught up with them; after 130 years they are still "modern music." That in E flat is somewhat nearer to the ordinary forms than the other four. In the first movement the Maestoso interrupts the Allegro twice in its course. The second movement is a theme with five variations closely linked together. The elaborate Scherzo has its two parts with repetitions, and a Trio, one of the parts of which is repeated, the repeats being, of course, not literal or anything like. The finale is given no tempo indication: it is left to the players to express their joy of it at what pace they think appropriate.

NEXT CONCERT FRIDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1957 at 7-45 p.m. SHURA CHERKASSY Pianoforte QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY MUSIC SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT TUESDAY, 3rd DECEMBER at 7.30 p.m. IN WHITLA HALL Bach Christmas Oratorio, Parts I and II Carols and Choruses from MESSIAH to be sung by audience PLEASE BRING COPIES OF MESSIAH