BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND 1965 1966 FIRST RECITAL under the auspices of THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST THE AEOLIAN STRING QUARTET SYDNEY HUMPHREYS RAYMOND KEENLYSIDE MARGARET MAJOR DEREK SIMPSON AND KENNETH ESSEX Violin Violin Viola Violoncello Viola SIR WILLIAM WHITLA HALL Queen's University, Belfast FRIDAY, 1st OCTOBER, 1965 at 7.45 p.m.

Quintet in C major, K 515 Allegro Menuetto allegretto Andante Allegro Boccherini wrote many string quintets, but they were not in the real tradition of chamber music as Haydn established it. Haydn confined himself to the quartet; it was Mozart who, attracted by the tone of the viola, established this form as we know it. This work was one of three composed in 1787, in the hope apparently, an unsuccessful hope, of making some money. The first subject is divided between the cello, with a rising motive, and the first violin, against an ostinato of the other three instruments, and shortly the roles of violin and cello are reversed. The second subject is issued by the first violin solo. In the first minuet the second part is really an expansion of the first, and it is left to the elaborate trio to enrich the content with new ideas. The andante, in the many exchanges between first violin and first viola, illus- trates conspicuously the use Mozart could make of the extra instrument. The allegro is a rondo of great complexity of thought. "Phantasy" quintet in D minor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Prelude Scherzo Alla Sarabanda Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958) Burlesque This work, written in 1912 was dedicated to W. W. Cobbett, the great patron of chamber music. The following note was written by the composer for the first performance in 1914. This "Phantasy" was written at the request of Mr. W. W. Cobbett, as one of a series for various combinations of instruments. It is in four very short movements, which succeed each other without a break. There is one principal theme (given out by the viola at the start) which runs through every movement: (1) Prelude (in slow 2/3 time). (2) Scherzo (this is a quick movement-the longest of the four) (3) Alla Sarabanda (here the cello is silent and the other instruments are muted) (4) Burlesca (this movement is, for the most part, in the form of a "basso ostinato"). R.V.W.'

Quintet in G major, Op 111 INTERVAL Allegro non troppo, ma con brio Adagio Un poco allegretto Vivace ma non troppo presto There can be little doubt that Brahms found himself more at home in the larger chamber music groups. Certainly this quintet is one of the richest and most satisfying of his works. We know little of its composition except that it dates from 1890 and was intended by Brahms to be the last of his published works, which in fact it was not. The beginning presents a well-known problem, the cellist being required to make the opening theme sing against a tremolando of the other four instruments marked forte; the second subject makes an unmistakable impact from the two violas. The adagio is a theme and three variations, whose grave beauty, heavily reinforced by the violas, never becomes sombre; note the effective snatches of pizzicato in individual instruments. The third movement, with its folk tune reminiscences, retains in lighter form the autumnal beauty of the second. The closing vivace, Hungarian in suggestion, comes to a strikingly exultant conclusion of great beauty. Next Concerts . . . Friday, 22nd October Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) GERARD SOUZAY (Baritone) and DALTON BALDWIN (Pianoforte) Honour and arms (Samson) O sleep why dost thou leave me? (Semele) Furibonde spira il vento (Partenope) Cinq poèmes de Verlaine Chansons madécasses En sourdine; Green; c'est l'extase; Prison; Mandoline. Nahandove; Aoua ! ; Repos Liederkreiss, Op 39 Handel Fauré Ravel Schumann

Thursday, 13th January, 1966 THE OROMOTE PIANO TRIO Trio in F sharp minor Trio in B flat major, Op 99 Trio in B major, Op 8 CITY OF BELFAST ORCHESTRA CONCERTS Conductor: MAURICE MILES Soloist: LEON GOOSSENS Haydn Schubert Brahms Wednesday, 6th October, 7.30 p.m. Lisnafillan Concert Hall, Ballymena SYMPHONY No. 35 in D (K 385) (Haffner) OVERTURE Don Giovanni OBOE CONCERTO in C (K 314) SYMPHONY No. 2 in D (Sibelius Centenary) Mozart Mozart Mozart Sibelius Booking: Ballymena Observer, Church Street, Ballymena. Tel. 2451 MOTET: Exsultate Jubilate SYMPHONY No. 41 in C major (K 551) Friday, 15th October, 8 p.m. Ulster Hall, Belfast Soloists: CYRIL SMITH and PHYLLIS SELLICK (Pianos) FLORENCE INNIS (Soprano) MOZART CONCERT OVERTU Don Giovanni SYMPHONY No. 35 in D (K 385) (Haffner) CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS in E flat (K 365) (arr. John White) Booking: Woods & Heaney Ltd., 56 Upper Queen Street, Belfast. Tel. 28449