Programme of Symons-Elwood-Short Trio

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 16, 4 November 1927, Page 7

Programme of Symons-Elwood-Short Trio

The trios ta be played this week by the Symons-Eliwood-Short trio include movements from works by Brahms, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn: Those who are accustomed to associating the name of Brahms with music of only an austere quality will be very pleasantly surprised at the beautiful melodiousness and richness of harmony in the first movement of the trio in B major. The loveliness of the opening leaves an indelible impression on the memory of the listen-' er. Beethoven will be represented by movements from his trios in C minor and D major, one of the earliest and one of the’ latest of the great Bonn master’s efforts in this field. The charming simplicity and gracefulness of the first work are in marked contrast to the vigour and robustness of the opening of the trio in D, The well-known slow movement of the Mendelssohn trio in D minor, with its simple melody and the vivacious scherzo, will make an immediate appeal by reason of their clearness of form and

frank tunefulness. The dazzling brilliant fast movement, one of the most popular of trio movements amongst large audiences, will be played on Saturday evening, as will also the droll, so-called "Gipsy Rondo" of Haydn, the last movement of one of his trios. The whole of one of Gurlitt’s trios, that in D major, will be presented on Monday evening. This is a work of a purely light nature, but is an excellent example of very popular triowriting, and is sure to attract many listeners-in. Miss Ava Symons will play the celebrated "‘Deyii’s Trill’? sonata, by ‘artini, The composer, one of the greatest violinists of his time, related the origin of it to a friend as foliows:"One night I dreamt that I had made a bargain with the devil for my sou!. Everything went at my command; my novel servant anticipated every one of my wishes. Then the idea suggested itself to hand him my Violin to see what he would do with it. Great was my astonishment when I heard him play, with consummate skill, a sonata of such exquisite beanty as surpassed

the boldest flights of my imagination. I felt enraptured, transported; my breath failed me, and-I awoke. Seizing gy violin, I tried to reproduce the sounds I had heard, But in vain. The piece I then composed, the ‘Devil's Sonata; although the best I ever wrote, how far was it below the one I had heard in my dreamsl" ‘Mr. George. Ellwood will play as violoncello solos and tanguorous "Orientale," by Cui, the lovely ‘"Londonderry Air," one of the most nerfect of all folk-songs, and a _ sparkling Bourree by Handel. . Mr. Gordon Short will play three numbers from a mighty work of thirty moods and scenes in friple time, written by the famous pianist, Leopold Godowsky. ‘hese three will be "In Old Vienna," "Paradoxical Moments," and ‘‘Rendezvous." A number of particular interest to music lovers will be the first movement of Grieg’s sonata for ‘cello and piano, to be played on Saturday evening by Messrs. Ellwood and Short. It is of a very fiery nature, and is always a highly effective concert item.