Toronto String Quartette
Encyclopedia
The Toronto String Quartette (TSQ) was the name of three un-related professional Canadian string quartet
s based in Toronto
, Ontario
.
. The original group consisted of violin
ists Henri Jacobsen and John Bayley
, violist
Carl Martens, and a Mr Kuhn on cello. The ensemble’s first performances were in the Winter of 1884 in s series of five concerts presented by the TQC. A similar concert series was mounted the following season with the quartet being joined by F.H. Torrington, A.E. Fisher, a Mr Haslam, and a Mr Daniels in performances of Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings among other works.
In the 1885-1886 season, the TQS underwent some personnel changes with Fisher replacing Martens on the viola and Ludwig Corell assuming the role of cellist. That season the quartet presented a series of twelve popular concerts on Monday nights with repertoire including works by Ludwig van Beethoven
, Joseph Haydn
, and Robert Schumann
among others. Also on the program were piano trios by Hummel and Reissiger with Martens on piano, the Mozart Clarinet Quintet
with New York clarinetist Herr Kegel as a guest performer, and guest performances by Teresa Carreño
and Emma Juch
.
In spite of the TQS’s popularity, the group suffered from financial difficulties. In 1886 the Chamber Music Association was established by music publisher Abraham Nordheimer among other Toronto citizens to ensure the quartet’s continuation. The CMA sponsored the 1886-1887 season which included a series of six concerts at Shaftesbury Hall. Unfortunately, the ensemble did not survive beyond this season as Corell and Jacobsen both moved to the United States, forcing the quartet to dissolve in September 1887.
(1914-mid 1920s). The group disbanded briefly for the 1916-17 season but was then active again through at least 1925.
The TSQ performed an annual concert series in Toronto and toured to other cities and towns in Ontario. They also performed private concerts in the homes of the wealthy in Toronto, Buffalo, and other cities. In 1909 they gave a special concert for the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto. The ensemble performed a braud repertoire that encompassed classical, romantic, and 20th century works, including the Canadian premieres of works by Ernő Dohnányi
, Edward Elgar
, and Alexander Glazunov
among others. A number of notable pianists appeared as guest artists with the quartet, including Ernest MacMillan
, Paul Wells
, Frank Welsman
, and Healey Willan
.
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
s based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
The first TSQ: 1884-1887
The first Toronto String Quartette was formed in 1884 by the newly established Toronto Quartette Club (TQC), an organization dedicated to increasing public enthusiasm for chamber musicChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
. The original group consisted of violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ists Henri Jacobsen and John Bayley
John Bayley (musician)
John Bayley was an English bandmaster, clarinetist, violinist, and organist who was active in his native country and North America. Cornetist Herbert L. Clarke described him in his autobiography as "a finished musician of high order; he was a remarkable organist.....
, violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
Carl Martens, and a Mr Kuhn on cello. The ensemble’s first performances were in the Winter of 1884 in s series of five concerts presented by the TQC. A similar concert series was mounted the following season with the quartet being joined by F.H. Torrington, A.E. Fisher, a Mr Haslam, and a Mr Daniels in performances of Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings among other works.
In the 1885-1886 season, the TQS underwent some personnel changes with Fisher replacing Martens on the viola and Ludwig Corell assuming the role of cellist. That season the quartet presented a series of twelve popular concerts on Monday nights with repertoire including works by Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, and Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
among others. Also on the program were piano trios by Hummel and Reissiger with Martens on piano, the Mozart Clarinet Quintet
Clarinet Quintet (Mozart)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581, was written in 1789 for the clarinetist Anton Stadler. A clarinet quintet is a work for one clarinet and a string quartet . Although originally written for basset clarinet, it is almost always played on a clarinet in A or B-flat...
with New York clarinetist Herr Kegel as a guest performer, and guest performances by Teresa Carreño
Teresa Carreño
María Teresa Carreño García de Sena was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, composer, and conductor.Born into a musical family, she was at first taught by her father, then by Mathias, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Anton Rubinstein and her talent was recognized at an early age...
and Emma Juch
Emma Juch
Emma Juch was a popular soprano opera singer of the 1880s and 1890s from Vienna, Austria. Her married name was Emma Antonia Joanna Juch Wellman. Her name was more properly Von Juch.-Austrian family:...
.
In spite of the TQS’s popularity, the group suffered from financial difficulties. In 1886 the Chamber Music Association was established by music publisher Abraham Nordheimer among other Toronto citizens to ensure the quartet’s continuation. The CMA sponsored the 1886-1887 season which included a series of six concerts at Shaftesbury Hall. Unfortunately, the ensemble did not survive beyond this season as Corell and Jacobsen both moved to the United States, forcing the quartet to dissolve in September 1887.
The second TSQ: 1894
The second Toronto String Quartette was a short lived ensemble that was actively performing in Toronto in 1894. Bayley of the first TSQ was the group’s first violinist with Messrs Anderson, Napolitano, and Dinelli rounding out the group. The group’s performances were reviewed in the Musical Courier.The third TSQ: 1906 to mid-1920s
The third and final Toronto String Quartette was formed in 1906 with Frank Blachford as the first violin, Roland Roberts on second violin, violist Frank Converse Smith, and cellist Frederic Nicolai. The group gave its first performance on 23 January 1907. Blachford was the only member to stay with the group for its entire duration. Other members included second violinists Benedict Clarke (1914–1923), Erland Misener (1923), and Albert Aylward (1924); violists Alfred Bruce (1923) and Erland Misener (1924); and cellist Leo SmithLeo Smith (composer)
Leo Joseph Leopold Smith was an English composer, writer, music critic, music educator, and cellist who was primarily active in Canada...
(1914-mid 1920s). The group disbanded briefly for the 1916-17 season but was then active again through at least 1925.
The TSQ performed an annual concert series in Toronto and toured to other cities and towns in Ontario. They also performed private concerts in the homes of the wealthy in Toronto, Buffalo, and other cities. In 1909 they gave a special concert for the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto. The ensemble performed a braud repertoire that encompassed classical, romantic, and 20th century works, including the Canadian premieres of works by Ernő Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
, Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, and Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
among others. A number of notable pianists appeared as guest artists with the quartet, including Ernest MacMillan
Ernest MacMillan
Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s...
, Paul Wells
Paul Wells (musician)
Paul Wells was an American pianist, composer, music educator, and writer on music. Born in Carthage, Missouri, he was educated at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. After solo appearances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, he pursued further studies...
, Frank Welsman
Frank Welsman
Frank Squire Welsman was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer and music educator. He began his career as a concert pianist, but ultimately earned his place in Canadian history for establishing Toronto's first symphony orchestra of any standing, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra which was active...
, and Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
.