Boston Symphony Sextette: Max Kunze, director

              Figure

MAX KUNZE, Director
BOSTON Symphony Sextette
From the Boston Symphony The World's Greatest Orchestra

A Dunbar Attraction



Boston Symphony Sextette

Max Kunze
BASS
While a position as first double bass player in the finest orchestral body of the world, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, would in itself entitle an artist to prominent distinction, Mr. Kunze has also a world wide reputation as a soloist and teacher of his instrument.

He studied at the Music Schools of Dresden and Hamburg, and at the age of seventeen secured his first engagement as principal bass player of the symphony orchestra at Warsaw, Russia.

The following year he played in Hamburg under Anton Rubenstein and Hans von Bulow.  Mr. Kunze came to America to play with Theodore Thomas at the World's Fair in Chicago and became a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1894.



Walter Blumenau
VIOLA
Mr. Walter Blumenau, the viola player, is from the Royal High School of Music in Berlin, under Prof. Moser and Henry Marteau.

In the year of 1910 we find the young man at Helsingford, Finland, as first violinist of the Symphony Orchestra when he received an offer to join the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.  While in Berlin, Mr. Blumenau had occasion to appear in many chamber music concerts with some of the finest artists who visit the capital city of Germany.

Dr. Karl Muck, who heard the young man play in Berlin, made him an offer to join the Boston Symphony Orchestra which he accepted in 1912.



Gustav Battles
FLUTE
Mr. Gustav Battles is a native of Concord, N. H., where he took up the study of the flute at an early age.

Following his earlier artistic attempts, Mr. Battles studied for five years with Andre Maguarre of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and secured an engagement with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra where he remained for three seasons.  Receiving an advantageous offer from the Boston Symphony Mr. Battles accepted the engagement and has been with that organization for six years.



Figure





Herman Goldstein
VIOLIN
Herman Goldstein, the solo violinist, has the distinction of being the third member of his family to become a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he is just completing his eighth year, last year being his seventh year.  He is the only American born first violinist of that organization and has completed all his studies in the United States.  He appeared as soloist at the age of eight years and his performances attracted most flattering attention from the critics of the Boston Transcript and the Boston Herald, two of America's leading musical papers.

On a recent European tour two years ago, he received the highest praise in the artistic circles of Paris and elsewhere for his rare musical ability and individuality.



Placido Fiumara
VIOLIN
Mr. Fiumara has been a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for twenty-seven years, where he occupies the first chair of the section of second violins.  His long service in the foremost orchestra of the world is in itself a guaranty of his sterling qualities as an artist and a man.

Mr. Fiumara is well known in New England as a conductor and solo violinist.  In recent years he has made a specialty of teaching with gratifying results, as several of his pupils have become members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.



Ludwig Nast
'CELLO
Mr. Nast is a graduate of the Conservatory of Strassburg; is a soloist of international reputation and has been connected with the foremost orchestras of Europe and America.  As a member of the famous Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin, he traveled through Germany, France, Spain and Italy, appearing as soloist at many concerts.

Mr. Nast held the position as 'Cello Soloist in the Symphony Orchestra of Kieff, Russia, has been a member of the Boston Symphony since 1903 and has won for himself a high position among violoncellists.





Boston Symphony Sextette
MAX KUNZE, Director

HERMAN GOLDSTEIN, Violin
PLACIDO FIUMARA, Violin
WALTER BLUMENAU, Viola
LUDWIG NAST, 'Cello
GUSTAV BATTLES, Flute
MAX KUNZE, Bass

The tour of this selected group of players, all active members of the Boston Symphony, the world's greatest orchestra, is the most notable musical event which the coming season promises.  It is positively the first company of active members of the Boston Symphony to go on a chautauqua or lyceum tour.  That chautauquas demand such quality and support such artists rather than musical tradesmen, clearly establishes their high and exacting standards.  The great orchestra now conducted by Dr. Karl Muck, and over which such conductors as William Gerricke, Arthur Nikisch, Max Fielder and Felix Weingartner have presided, has given musical America such organizations as the Kneisel Quartet and the Maquarre Sextette, which latter organization included Mr. Max Kunze, the director of the Boston Symphony Sextette, now principal contra bass of the great Boston Orchestra, one of the few world famous contra bass soloists, and principal instructor of contra bass in the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.


But presently
A velvet flute note fell down pleasantly
Upon the bosom of that harmony,
And sailed, and sailed incessantly,
As if a petal from a wild rose blown
Had fluttered down upon that pool of tone
And boatwise dropped o' the convex side
And floated down the glassy tide
And clarified and glorified
The solemn places where the shadows bide.
The Symphony—Sidney Lanier.

The programs offered are distinctive and unusual.  There's is not orchestral music—it is far more—it is the artistry of mature men who are at the head of their class, applied to ensemble music written for their instrumentation.  To hear them is to enjoy a feast of revealed musical art.

Director Kunze's skill as a program builder is evidenced by the two suggestive programs below.



PROGRAM I.


1
HAYDN
Symphony in B flat major



Largo, Allegro Vivace, Adagio,
Menuetto, Allegro, Finale, Presto.



2
a TELLAM
En Sourdine—Tempo di Valse



b GILLET
The Mill—Morceau Characteristic


3
BIZET
Flute Solo—Menuet from L'Artesienne



MR. BATTLES.



4
SCHUMANN
Traumerei, for String Quintet


5
GOUFFEE
Double Bass Solo, Rondo Fantasie in G



MR. KUNZE.



6
WIENIAWSKI
Violin Solo—Legende



MR. GOLDSTEIN.



7
RAZEK
Two Humoresques



a Cats Serenade.




b Daybreak in the Chicken Yard.



8
OFFENBACH
Overture—Orpheus





PROGRAM II.


1
HEINRICH HOFFMAN
Sextet Op. 65 for Flute and Strings



Allegro, Andante, Allegro Vivace,
In Hungarian Style.



2
FRANCHOMME
'Cello Solo —Die Letzte Rose



MR. NAST.



3
a TSCHAIKOWSKY,
Andante Cantabile, Op.11, Quartet



b BADINANT
Scherzo Quintet


4
DOUJON
Flute Solo —Fantasie Operatique



MR. BATTLES.



5
a MASSENET
Crepuscule



b HAYDN
Gypsy Rondo


6
SARASATE
Violin Solo —Spanish Dance No. 8



MR. GOLDSTEIN.



7
BERNIER
Bass Solo —Theme con Variee



MR. KUNZE.



8
ROSSINI
Overture —William Tell







Figure

THE BOSTON SYMPHONY — THE WORLD'S GREATEST ORCHESTRA SIX LEADING MEMBERS OF WHICH FORM THE
Boston Symphony Sextette
At the conductor's desk is seen Dr. Karl Muck.  By the way, he prizes his Doctor of Philosophy degree above all other honors he has received.  Mr. Kunze of the Sextette is first (at the left) in the line of contra basses.  Mr. Goldstein is in the top line of first violins (at left of picture).  Mr. Fiumara is seated among the violins at the right.  Mr. Nast is easily found among the 'cellos.  Mr. Blumenau appears among the violas, and Mr. Battles is seen in the center of the flute section.

The orchestra was organized thirty-four years ago.  It contains ninety-eight players, a majority of whom have served a score or more years.  Changes in membership are rare and men are retired on pension when the age limit is reached.  The orchestra's season commences September 25th each year and closes July 4th.  During this time there is a rehearsal with the conductor every morning at 10 o'clock, except during the one week of each month when the orchestra is en tour playing in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.


HOME OF THE ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY HALL SHOWN HEREWITH
ACCOUSTICALLY ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT AUDITORIUMS NOW STANDING




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